[no title: p. 345] 1970

Curator: This intriguing mixed media work is by Esq Tom Phillips, from his series "A Human Document." It's a modified book page, quite small, only about 19 x 14 cm. Editor: It feels so unsettling. The heavy, almost claustrophobic text is interrupted by these strange, isolated phrases. Curator: Phillips takes an existing Victorian novel and selectively obscures words and images to create entirely new meanings and visual compositions. It's a fascinating reclamation of pre-existing material. Editor: The phrases themselves, like "hush, hush!" and "before separating," are so loaded. They suggest suppressed emotions, impending loss, or a secret encounter. Curator: Exactly! And note how the artist uses the remaining text to shape forms, like that ominous, looming triangle. The process is about reduction, yes, but also about forceful, if eerie, creation. Editor: It’s a reminder of how language can be manipulated to evoke such diverse interpretations and feelings. A powerful act of deconstruction.