Leaves, Blue 1967

Editor: So, this is William Turnbull's "Leaves, Blue," from the Tate collection. There's no date listed. I’m immediately drawn to the simplicity of the blue lines against the white—it feels almost like a blueprint. What do you see in this work? Curator: I see process. Look at the way the blue pigment sits on the surface. The brushstrokes, the consistency of the paint; it speaks to a direct engagement with materials. How does this seemingly simple form challenge our notions of artistic labour and the value placed on different forms of production? Editor: That’s interesting! I was so focused on the visual aspect that I overlooked the production. I hadn't considered the inherent value of the labor of the artist. Curator: Exactly. And how might the industrial quality of the blue pigment—its production and consumption—relate to Turnbull’s other works or the broader artistic landscape of the time? Editor: I'll definitely look at this work, and others, in a different light going forward! Curator: And I'll look for other examples that challenge the established norms of artistic expression.