Manhattan (for Robert Adeane) 1995

Curator: Sir Norman Reid's collage, "Manhattan (for Robert Adeane)," presents us with a layered composition of paper fragments. What strikes you first? Editor: A sense of organized chaos! The textures and contrasting shapes are immediately engaging, but the overall arrangement feels deliberate. Curator: Indeed. Reid seems to be playing with the deconstruction of visual experience, doesn't he? We have recognizable fragments – text, photographs, patterns. Do you see any repeated motifs? Editor: Those small purple vase shapes appear several times. The repetition creates a symbolic rhythm, perhaps hinting at the recurrence of certain memories or feelings linked to "Manhattan." Curator: That’s interesting. The jumbled layering and semi-obscured imagery suggest the fragmented and subjective nature of how we construct our own versions of places and memories. Editor: I see that now. The formal arrangement really underscores that theme of subjective reconstruction. A powerful piece. Curator: It's a testament to Reid’s skill that this small-scale work speaks to such grand themes.