Canto XXIII: [no title] 1982

Curator: Esq Tom Phillips' mixed media print, "Canto XXIII," presents a jarring yet intriguing visual. What strikes you first about its composition? Editor: The figures, rendered with raw, almost brutal linework, give off a feeling of instability. The layering of imagery feels intentionally disorienting. Curator: Phillips, born in 1937, is known for his altered book art and engagement with literary texts. This piece seems to delve into themes of familial roles and societal expectations, given the text fragment at the top. Editor: The way the figures are constructed—almost like cut-outs—speaks to the process of assembling and disassembling identities. The materiality hints at a constructed reality. Curator: Indeed, the artistic practice mirrors the complex social structures it seems to critique, exploring how we piece together our understanding of gender and power. Editor: And the juxtaposition of the raw lines and the more painterly background pushes a conversation about the relationship between representation and the real. Fascinating. Curator: A powerful reminder that art can dissect the very structures we inhabit. Editor: Absolutely, and the materials reflect that deconstruction beautifully.