Untitled (May No. 1) 1979

Curator: What catches my eye immediately is the play of light—it feels almost primordial. Editor: Indeed. This piece, "Untitled (May No. 1)," is by the American artist Susan Rothenberg. Though undated, it resides in the Tate collections as an image sized at 300 by 200 mm. Curator: Rothenberg's work always has this way of feeling simultaneously representational and abstract. The starkness of the black and white adds to the feeling. Editor: It does lend itself to that feeling. Her position as a female artist in what was once a heavily male dominated art world also adds to the complexity of her work. Curator: Absolutely. It’s a visual statement, quietly pushing boundaries within the institutions. Editor: I appreciate that her works seem to suggest a new perspective on seeing and feeling the world around us. Curator: It certainly offers a lot to ponder.