Canto XXXIV: [no title] 1983

Editor: So, this untitled piece from the series "Canto XXXIV" by Esq Tom Phillips uses text and imagery. It feels very dense and oppressive. What's your take on it? Curator: The layering of text, specifically phrases like "Banners of the King," speaks to power and authority. How do institutions use imagery and language to construct narratives, and who is left out of that story? Editor: That makes me think about propaganda. Curator: Exactly. Phillips is prompting us to consider the role of art in shaping our understanding of history and the power structures within it. What narratives are being reinforced here, and for whose benefit? Editor: I see the piece in a new light now, it's less about oppression, and more about who benefits from the established order.