Interval 1975

Curator: Here we have Zsuzsi Roboz’s print, "Interval," residing here at the Tate. It captures two figures in what appears to be a moment of quietude. Editor: It's immediately striking. The charcoal rendering gives a weighty, almost sooty feel to this backstage scene. Curator: Roboz, born in Hungary in 1939, often focused on the performing arts. Consider the gendered spaces of theatre and dance – women often relegated backstage, in preparation. How does the artist’s own identity as a woman shape this depiction? Editor: The emphasis on texture, the way the light catches the costumes, that’s where the work really sings. There's a tension between the fleeting nature of performance and the concrete reality of dress and labor. Curator: Precisely. This piece challenges the romantic vision of performance, highlighting the labor and routine intrinsic to its creation and presentation. It's a very feminist reading. Editor: It’s intriguing to see how Roboz uses a relatively simple medium like charcoal to convey this nuanced narrative. Curator: Absolutely, and considering that the exact date for "Interval" is not known, it allows for diverse contemporary interpretations. Editor: It leaves me thinking about the unseen work that underpins every spectacle we consume. Curator: And the often-overlooked narratives of women's experiences within these structures.