Dimensions: image: 254 x 355 mm
Copyright: © Tom Phillips | CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate
Editor: This untitled work by Esq Tom Phillips features outlines of text interwoven with musical notation. It feels like a visual poem of sorts. What do you see in this piece, beyond the immediate impression? Curator: I see a potent intersection of language, music, and visual art, all mediums historically controlled by certain demographics. Phillips, through deconstruction, seems to be asking us to question the very structures of how we create and consume art, and who has access. Does the text reinforce or subvert the music, and vice versa? Editor: That's a fascinating question. It makes me think about the power dynamics inherent in artistic expression. I hadn't considered that before. Curator: Exactly. Art is rarely neutral; it's often a reflection of, or a challenge to, societal norms. Hopefully, we’ve encouraged listeners to ponder the artist's statement.