[no title: p. 51] 1970

Curator: Here we have a page from Tom Phillips's celebrated work "A Humument," specifically page 51, which visually reworks a Victorian novel. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by the gridded structure. It gives the impression of a heavily redacted document, hinting at hidden meanings beneath the surface. Curator: Precisely. Phillips takes an existing text and obscures portions to reveal new narratives. Notice how some words and phrases are left untouched. Editor: Yes, like the phrase "railway carriage vaguely scented." It pulls you into a specific time and place, suggestive of travel and perhaps even social class through those vague scents. The means of production are clear. An old novel repurposed. Curator: And how the original materials of the book become the ground for this new artistic intervention. The very act of obscuring and revealing text speaks to the politics of what gets remembered or forgotten. Editor: The visible labor is key. The meticulous process of masking and unveiling is a testament to his artistic craft. I wonder what source material Phillips repurposed for this artwork. Curator: A cheap Victorian novel found in a junk shop. It's a commentary on authorship and the cultural value we assign to certain texts over others. Editor: It challenges our assumptions about value and artmaking, which is fascinating. Curator: Indeed, a playful yet critical intervention into the landscape of literature and art history.