Hedges II 1977

Editor: This is "Hedges II" by Ivor Abrahams, currently residing at the Tate Collections. It's... well, it's a hedge. It feels almost hyper-real, but also a little unsettling. What do you make of it? Curator: Abrahams is engaging with a long history of landscape art, but pushing against it. The hyper-realism you mention is key. It's not simply a representation of nature; it's a commentary on our controlled and often artificial relationship with the natural world, wouldn't you agree? Editor: I suppose so. It's like nature but… elevated, or maybe even trapped? Curator: Exactly. Think about the social function of gardens and manicured landscapes. They often reflect power, control, and a desire to impose order. This piece, in its quiet way, questions those power structures. Editor: So, it's not just a pretty picture; it's about who decides what "pretty" is. I never would have thought of that! Curator: Precisely! And that's where art history helps us see beyond the surface. Editor: Well, I’ll never look at a hedge the same way again. Curator: Nor I, hopefully.