Head 3 1955

Curator: My first thought is that it looks like an ancient artifact, something unearthed after centuries. Editor: Indeed! This is William Turnbull's "Head 3," residing here at the Tate. What I find striking is how he evokes something primal, almost geological. Curator: The rough hewn texture, the muted green patina... it's as if the artist is trying to reach back to some fundamental form, a proto-human head. Editor: Precisely. Turnbull was deeply interested in the power of archaic sculpture to convey universal human experiences. The cross-hatched carvings remind me of early writing systems or cartography. Curator: It's incredibly tactile, you want to reach out and run your fingers over its surface, tracing those lines. It makes you think about the nature of perception itself, and how we project our own meanings onto the simplest forms. Editor: Ultimately, Turnbull's "Head 3" is a testament to the enduring power of minimalist abstraction to tap into the wellspring of human history and feeling. Curator: A powerful reminder that even the most simple form can contain profound stories.