Canto XXV: [no title] 1983

Editor: This striking work by Esq Tom Phillips, titled "Canto XXV: [no title]", features mixed media on paper. I'm immediately drawn to the fragmented figure and the brick wall motif. What symbols do you see operating here? Curator: The piece layers visual languages. The hand gesture, echoing a 'V' for victory, collides with the raw, almost grotesque, depiction of the face. Notice the tension: a symbol of triumph juxtaposed with a possible image of suffering. Editor: The juxtaposition is powerful. Curator: Indeed. The bricks could represent societal structures, both confining and supportive. This visual vocabulary evokes a historical dialogue between power and vulnerability, carried through time. What new meanings might they hold for you? Editor: I’ll consider how these symbols resonate today. Thanks! Curator: A fascinating journey into the visual landscape, isn’t it?