A Illiers-Combray VI 1973 - 1974

Curator: Standing before us is Ian Tyson’s "A Illiers-Combray VI," housed right here at the Tate. Editor: Immediately, I see a kind of rigid order, a grid of coral dots against a stark black background. It almost feels… digital. Curator: It’s fascinating, isn’t it? The meticulous arrangement, that slight disruption with those few green dots. It's as if Tyson is playing with perfection and imperfection. Editor: Absolutely, the color palette is so limited, yet the work feels surprisingly rich. The precise repetition creates a compelling visual rhythm, doesn't it? Curator: It certainly does. I find myself getting lost in the pattern, those subtle shifts. It's like gazing into a star field. Editor: Yes, and perhaps the title offers a clue? Proust's Combray was all about memory triggered by sensory details, and this print maybe tries to do something similar, but with pure form. It's all so controlled. Curator: True, maybe it is the artist's own way of evoking memories and associations. Editor: It offers a glimpse into Tyson's formal and conceptual process.