Head 1994

Curator: Here we have Tony Bevan's stark woodcut print, simply titled "Head". It's a powerful, unsettling image, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Absolutely, the upward gaze immediately suggests a kind of yearning, maybe even desperation, emphasized by the darkness looming above. What can you tell me about Bevan's process? Curator: Bevan often employed rough, almost brutal carving techniques. The contrast between the coarse marks and smooth areas is striking. There is an interesting tension between representation and abstraction here. Editor: The face is almost like a mask of suffering. We see elements of what could be interpreted as a symbol of psychological distress or even a distorted echo of classic religious iconography, in the face looking up to the sky. Curator: It's interesting you bring up the idea of a mask. The materiality of the woodcut is so connected to the labor involved. Editor: Yes, the choice of such a stark medium and its expressive capabilities clearly amplifies the emotional impact. Curator: I see Bevan's use of such a direct process as a rejection of traditional notions of artistic skill. Editor: Well, it is difficult to deny that this image does evoke something profound about the human condition.