Here We Exemplify 1967 - 1968

Curator: Here We Exemplify by Esq Tom Phillips, currently in the Tate Collections, presents an immediate visual density. It's a vast field of text, almost overwhelming. Editor: My first impression is how this resembles a palimpsest, with layers of meaning barely visible beneath a surface of fractured language. It speaks to how we construct and obscure narratives. Curator: Exactly. Phillips, a Royal Academician, explores how meaning is both created and obscured through appropriation and manipulation of found texts. Editor: Considering contemporary theory, it could represent the cacophony of information we navigate daily, reflecting how digital culture overwhelms and shapes our understanding. Curator: The scale—over 1.5 by 2.5 meters—demands a physical engagement, echoing the public role of art in shaping discourse. Editor: Indeed, forcing us to confront the limitations and biases inherent within any constructed narrative. It raises questions about whose voices are amplified and whose are erased. Curator: A potent reminder of the need for critical engagement with the texts and images that surround us. Editor: It's a beautiful challenge to inherited power structures. I find that inspiring.