[title not known] 1981

Curator: Here we have an untitled work by William Johnstone. Look closely—notice how the ink is delicately yet forcefully splattered across the page, almost like an explosion frozen in time. Editor: The poem on the right page titled "The Late Wasp," certainly contextualizes this visceral imagery as a narrative of decline. It speaks to the individual and the environment confronting the inevitable passage of time and change, echoing the artist’s own life and historical events. Curator: Indeed, the composition, juxtaposing the stark visual elements with the poem, achieves a striking sense of balance. The inky blots contrast the poem's crisp, deliberate typography. Johnstone masterfully uses emptiness as a compositional element, framing both image and text. Editor: Seeing this, one cannot help but ponder the sociopolitical contexts of Johnstone's time, living through major wars and cultural shifts. The wasp, in its fading existence, becomes a metaphor for resilience amidst despair, questioning prevailing societal structures and power dynamics. Curator: The starkness of the black ink against the pristine white paper produces a stark visual tension, mirroring the poem's themes. It evokes a feeling of melancholy, of beauty found in decay. Editor: I find it a profound reflection on mortality and perseverance. It inspires us to consider how we confront our own vulnerabilities, as individuals and as a society.