15. ‘Oh Helen, I roam my room’ 1973

Curator: Patrick Caulfield's 'Oh Helen, I roam my room' presents us with a starkly stylized window and glass, its date unspecified. Editor: It’s incredibly graphic. The bold outlines almost flatten the scene, making it feel manufactured rather than observed. Curator: Caulfield was fascinated with everyday objects, elevating them to symbols. The window as a frame to the outside world, the glass possibly representing the self, empty or waiting to be filled. Editor: I'm intrigued by the screen printing process; the defined edges, uniform color blocks, the artist’s hand is subtly present but it's clearly been mediated through technology. Curator: The simplicity creates a contemplative mood, a sense of loneliness perhaps, amplified by the title's echo of longing. Editor: It's a powerful contrast. Mass-produced aesthetic, intimate subject matter. Curator: It makes you wonder about the artist's feelings towards reproduction and originality itself. Editor: I like the tension it creates between the domestic and the detached.