Turkish sundial & column 1967

Curator: Here we have Ben Nicholson's "Turkish sundial & column," part of the Tate Collection. It's a small print, just about 20 by 23 centimeters. What do you make of it? Editor: It feels like a ghost of a memory. The lines are so delicate, almost tentative, like a half-forgotten dream of ancient times. Curator: Nicholson was fascinated by the forms of antiquity, but he approached them with a modernist sensibility. This work shows how classical forms were perceived in the 60's. Editor: It’s as though he's trying to find the essence of these objects, stripping away all the unnecessary detail. The time markings are so faint. Curator: Yes, it's a distilled, almost abstract, representation. It evokes a sense of timelessness. Editor: Absolutely, that contrast between the ancient and the modern is really striking. Curator: It makes you think about how we connect with history. Editor: Indeed, it gives you something to ponder.