[no title: p. 317] 1970

Curator: This intriguing altered book page is by Esq Tom Phillips and is part of the Tate Collections. It measures 190 by 140 mm. The text fragments read like a surreal poem. Editor: It feels like a strange, fragmented dream. The colors, though muted, create a sort of pathway through the text. Is it a visual score? Curator: Precisely! Phillips is known for his elaborate reworkings of Victorian novels, particularly his masterpiece "A Humument," where he paints and collages over the pages, revealing only certain words. Editor: So, he’s using constraint to unlock new meaning. The selected words, isolated in bright blocks, become the focal point. "Every time you get this letter..." it evokes a sense of ritual. Curator: And consider the phrases he reveals: "on a sofa the porter found himself damp..." "instant mistress, instant mess". It suggests illicit encounters, societal anxieties. Editor: It’s a very effective method of repurposing the imagery of text. A provocative interplay between word and image. I find myself strangely compelled. Curator: Exactly. Phillips compels us to consider the latent narratives embedded in the books we take for granted. Editor: A great example of a new way to see old things.