[title not known] 1981

Curator: William Johnstone, born in 1897, created this ink artwork. The work is held in the Tate Collections. Editor: It feels like a Rorschach test, doesn't it? Dark and brooding. It’s kind of unsettling. Curator: Johnstone was deeply influenced by surrealism and abstraction. His work often explores the subconscious. Editor: Yes, the dark blotch on the left definitely evokes a sense of the unknown, maybe even a repressed memory surfacing. And opposite it is the poem "Too Much," which only adds to the unsettling mood. Curator: The combination of text and image provides commentary on the psychological distress many people face when trying to navigate societal demands. Editor: Agreed. It's heavy, but somehow also freeing in its honesty. Curator: It is intriguing to think about how Johnston's work might be interpreted today, with all we now know about mental health. Editor: Absolutely, it gives us a glimpse into the past and a vocabulary for present emotional landscapes.