[no title: p. 97] 1970

Curator: At the Tate, we have an intriguing work by Esq Tom Phillips. While untitled, it's known as page 97 from "A Human Document." Editor: My first impression is one of constraint, the text caged, almost like a redacted document resisting legibility. Curator: Phillips, born in 1937, often appropriates and alters existing texts and images. Here, he uses a found Victorian novel, overlaying shapes and patterns, transforming the original narrative. Editor: Right, the intervention feels disruptive. Highlighting and obscuring, he subverts the original text’s authority, creating a new layer of meaning that begs questions about control and censorship. Curator: It's a powerful example of how artists engage with historical texts, repurposing them to comment on contemporary issues. It challenges our understanding of authorship and interpretation. Editor: Absolutely. This piece invites us to consider how we read, how we consume information, and who controls the narrative. It's a potent reminder of the power dynamics embedded in language.