VII 1973

Curator: John Walker's "VII," held here at the Tate, presents us with an intriguing play of textures and tones. Editor: It feels like looking into the night sky, but also like something being erased. Does that make sense? Curator: Absolutely, it speaks to the process. Walker is known for building up and scraping away layers, a physicality I find really compelling. Editor: It's rough, raw, and yet I feel this strange sense of peace looking at it. It's like the storm has passed. Curator: I think you're hitting on the tension inherent in the materials. The dark hues contrast beautifully with the textured surface of the paper, almost like labor echoing the cosmos. Editor: It makes you think about how the world is built and unbuilt, doesn't it? A quiet meditation. Curator: Precisely. It's a reflection on process, on the artist's labor, and maybe, on something even grander. Editor: Well, I for one am glad to have spent a little bit of time with Walker's “VII” tonight.