[no title] 1974

Editor: This image by Ian Breakwell presents a series of photographic strips accompanied by text, almost like a storyboard for a play that never was. It feels strangely detached and dreamlike. What symbols or recurring themes do you observe? Curator: The repetition of the phrase "In the locked and empty theatre" immediately strikes me. It suggests a psychological space, perhaps a memory or a state of mind rather than a literal place. The theatre, a place of performance and illusion, becomes a vessel for the subconscious. What resonates with you about the objects described, like the fish tank or the stuffed sheep? Editor: They feel very surreal, almost absurd in their juxtapositions. Curator: Exactly. Breakwell is disrupting our expectations, creating a symbolic language that speaks to isolation, performance, and the hidden narratives within everyday life. The stark contrast between the visual and the written elements amplifies this sense of unease. Editor: I hadn't considered the unease before, but now it seems central to understanding the image. Thanks!