R - Rhyme and Ritual 1969 - 1970

Editor: This is Joe Tilson’s “R - Rhyme and Ritual” from the Tate Collections. It’s quite a striking collage. The fragmented images and bold colors give it a real sense of dynamism. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The interplay of fragmented forms commands attention. Note the rhythmic arrangement of the colored circles juxtaposed with the human figures, a potent visual structure. Editor: It’s an unusual pairing, isn’t it? How do they relate? Curator: Consider the visual rhyme between the curves of the human form and the circular motifs. Does this suggest a cyclical, perhaps ritualistic, reading of the work? Editor: I see what you mean. The fragmentation also creates a sense of something being broken or incomplete. Curator: Precisely. The deconstruction of form challenges the viewer to reconstruct meaning. Editor: That’s a new way to look at collage. Thanks! Curator: Indeed, a focus on the structural elements reveals a sophisticated visual language.