Oceanus / Tethys 1973

Curator: Looking at Joe Tilson's work, this is called "Oceanus / Tethys," it appears to be a mixed media piece on paper, currently held at the Tate. What are your initial thoughts? Editor: It feels like a collection of fragments, assembled almost like a mood board. I'm drawn to the textural contrasts - the rough, printed blue versus the smooth paper cutouts. Curator: The piece layers several symbols: Greek mythology with the names Oceanus and Tethys, the ladder of names perhaps alluding to a lineage. The "moon" tag feels almost playful. Editor: I'm interested in the printing process that gave the blue background its quality. And the string running through it – is it just holding the paper elements, or part of the work itself? It blurs the lines of production. Curator: Perhaps suggesting interconnectedness. The symbols here, drawn from different eras, coalesce into a modern meditation on heritage. Editor: I appreciate how the work challenges the notion of what is supposed to be considered art. Curator: Indeed, a journey through time and material. Editor: A fascinating juxtaposition of process and meaning.