Head (proofs) 1956

Curator: Immediately, I sense a kind of controlled chaos, a vibrant explosion contained within an invisible sphere. Editor: Here we have William Turnbull's "Head (proofs)", a striking image in the Tate collection. While its date is unspecified, Turnbull was active throughout the latter half of the 20th century. Curator: It’s almost violent, wouldn't you agree? Like a starburst or some kind of celestial event rendered in blue. The splatter feels energetic, like the artist really went at it. Editor: Turnbull's engagement with materiality is significant here. These proofs offer a fascinating glimpse into process. The "Head" emerges from, or perhaps dissolves into, a field of abstraction. It reflects postwar anxieties about identity and the fragmented self. Curator: I suppose what strikes me is how, even with that historical context, I find it so visually arresting. It's a simple piece, but it draws you right in. Editor: Exactly. It demonstrates how the interplay of historical context and visceral artistic expression makes Turnbull so compelling.