Three Horizons II 1975

Curator: This is John Loker's "Three Horizons II," currently residing in the Tate Collections. There's something starkly beautiful about its simplicity. Editor: Immediately, I see landscapes flattened, almost imprisoned by those rigid lines. Is this a comment on our relationship with the natural world, the way we control and confine it? Curator: Loker often explored process and repetition. Notice how he varies the texture within each band, perhaps through subtle shifts in pressure or layering of materials. It reminds me of geological strata, or even agricultural practices. Editor: Perhaps. But I see a critique of power. Those horizons are segmented, categorized. The single black mark on the bottom—is that a symbol of defiance, or perhaps the exploitation inherent in such rigid systems? Curator: The physicality of the artwork, the mark-making itself, conveys information. The labor is evident. Editor: Agreed. It reveals not just the artist's hand, but also hints at larger societal structures. It asks us to question how we perceive and interact with the environment around us. Curator: Indeed, a thought-provoking piece on several levels. Editor: Yes, definitely something to keep thinking about.