Strangetalkwithfriend by Stanley Boxer

Strangetalkwithfriend 1976

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Dimensions: image: 260 x 263 mm

Copyright: © The estate of Stanley Boxer | CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate

Curator: Here we have Stanley Boxer’s "Strangetalkwithfriend," a print from 1976, currently residing in the Tate Collections. Editor: My initial impression is ethereal, almost dreamlike. The soft pastel palette creates a serene, otherworldly atmosphere. Curator: Given the title, it’s interesting to consider the social dynamics at play. Are these figures in conversation, or are they isolated in their own worlds, merely coexisting? Editor: The composition, a circular arrangement of figures, evokes a sense of unity, yet each figure maintains a distinct pose. The lines are delicate and expressive, suggesting a shared space that is more psychological than physical. Curator: Perhaps Boxer is reflecting the fractured nature of communication, where intimacy and alienation coexist. The title itself hints at a certain estrangement, even among friends. Editor: Agreed. Ultimately, the artwork's power resides in its visual vocabulary and ability to evoke feelings of connectedness alongside detachment. Curator: A fitting reflection, indeed, on the complexities of human interaction. Editor: Quite. I'll be contemplating this piece for days.

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tate 1 day ago

http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/boxer-strangetalkwithfriend-p12047

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tate 1 day ago

Stanley Boxer is best known for his large scale abstract paintings which have a rich sculptural quality produced by thick, impasto brushwork. Boxer’s paintings were championed by American modernist critic Clement Greenberg (1906-1994), famous for his insistence that painters should eliminate subject matter in their work, aiming instead for the purity of abstraction. When considered in relation to his paintings, the prints Boxer produced at Tyler Graphics between 1975 and 1979 seem somewhat of an anomaly. Over this period, he created several series of figurative works, illustrating whimsical scenes featuring animals and winged figures. Boxer had, however, been making drawings of this nature throughout his career, and he insisted they were closely connected to his abstracts, made with similar gestures and motivation.