Canto XVII: [no title] 1982

Curator: The Tate presents "Canto XVII," an untitled work by Esq Tom Phillips. Composed of layered imagery, this print measures just over 28 by 20 centimeters. Editor: It looks like a serpent coiling, almost suffocating under layers of symbolic weight. The colors are muted, but there's a subtle shimmer, like scales catching light. Curator: Phillips's practice often explores the intersection of text and image, deeply engaged with the cultural significance of both. His work is a conversation between form and meaning. Editor: Absolutely. You see these fragmented faces and claw-like shapes—they disrupt what might otherwise be pure pattern, adding a layer of violence. It feels like a critique of power structures embedded within these intricate designs. Curator: Perhaps. Or it could be Phillips reflecting on how history is always mediated, fragmented, never presenting a single, clear narrative. Editor: Ultimately, it's a powerful reminder that beauty can mask deeper, unsettling truths, and that art can challenge us to confront those complexities. Curator: A worthwhile consideration. The history of image-making invites many readings, doesn't it?