the Lure 

Curator: I'm immediately struck by the textile in Byam Shaw's work titled "The Lure". Look at the weight and weave of it as it falls off this peculiar, almost shivering figure. What's your first impression? Editor: A very potent and rather unsettling atmosphere. The haloed child swaddled in opulent fabric stands juxtaposed with the grieving woman in severe black. It feels thick with emotional symbolism. Curator: Absolutely, there’s an intense contrast here. Notice how the shawl, rendered presumably in oil paint and possibly gouache, contrasts with the somber tone. The rough texture feels palpable; you can almost imagine the cost and labour that went into producing such a luxurious item. Editor: Indeed. And the colour of this woven textile. The intricate patterns create an impression of royalty, or sacred covering - against the backdrop of the graveyard, it perhaps suggests the promise of something beyond death. I'm particularly intrigued by that child's direct, yet innocent stare. Curator: A pertinent reading, and the bare feet heighten that vulnerability too. However, do you see the tension this creates? It could almost be argued that, far from solace, we find a pointed display of disparity - a child seemingly exploiting wealth while a widow suffers her loss, possibly without those comforts. What sort of story might the materiality itself be communicating? Editor: I see what you mean. One could almost read the textile as a shroud, representing worldly materialism in contrast with spiritual purity, adding a sense of dark satire. It plays with traditional iconographic interpretations of loss and innocence. But do you think it critiques those older symbols? Curator: I wouldn't necessarily call it a complete critique, but a complex interrogation, certainly. Shaw perhaps is leveraging those expectations regarding colour and mourning to present a more multifaceted social commentary. It pushes beyond the bounds of mere aesthetic representation to a critical statement on human circumstances. Editor: Fascinating. The longer I contemplate the relationships depicted in “The Lure,” the more ambivalent and potent they become. A subversion within established symbolic order, not wholesale condemnation. Curator: Precisely, and it’s through this detailed engagement with materiality, along with its symbolic tension, that Shaw successfully creates such resonance in the observer. Editor: The juxtaposition definitely unlocks new and meaningful ways of seeing the conventional visual language around grief. Thank you for shedding new light on this piece.