Goat 1982

Curator: Welcome. We're looking at Malcolm Morley's "Goat," held in the Tate Collections. The work presents an animal form rendered in bold strokes of ink. What strikes you first about it? Editor: Chaos! It's a beautiful storm of ink—a swirling energy that barely contains the goat. Or maybe it's about the struggle *to* contain it. Curator: Morley often explored the tension between representation and abstraction. His engagement with the messy processes of painting is very present in this work. Editor: Messy, yes, but intentional. Look at how the ink splatters create a sense of movement—like the goat is bursting from the page. It's raw. Curator: Indeed, Morley’s work often challenged conventional artistic boundaries. This goat defies pastoral idylls—it's visceral, almost confrontational. Editor: Right? Not the serene goat of children's books. This one's got something wild behind its eyes. Maybe something human. Curator: Well, it certainly offers a glimpse into Morley's unique and restless vision. Editor: A vision that reminds us that even the most familiar subjects can hold wild depths.