Salisbury Madonna c. 1981

Curator: Dame Elisabeth Frink’s “Salisbury Madonna” presents us with a complex interpretation of a traditional subject. The artist who was born in 1930 passed away in 1993. Editor: There's a starkness to it, isn't there? The roughly worked surface and muted tones create a sense of profound solemnity. Curator: Absolutely. Frink often explored themes of power, vulnerability, and social justice in her sculptures, and this Madonna feels stripped of idealized sentimentality. It’s a maternal figure burdened by history, perhaps reflecting the postwar era. Editor: The figure is shrouded, the face etched with a weary expression. It reminds me of ancient mourning figures, icons of sorrow resonating through generations. The pose and clothing are familiar, a visual shorthand for the Madonna, yet infused with a modern sensibility. Curator: The traditional Madonna figure is recast as a woman bearing the weight of systemic suffering, which speaks to Frink's broader concern with human rights and social inequality. Editor: Indeed, it moves beyond a simple religious icon to become a powerful symbol of endurance and the burdens carried by women throughout history. Curator: It leaves you considering the Madonna's role in different eras and different social stratifications. Editor: Yes, and how symbols can be reshaped to reflect the realities of lived experience.