Lady Things 2009

Editor: This is Katy Moran's 'Lady Things,' currently housed at the Tate St Ives. It's an intriguing oil on canvas piece, heavily layered and almost monochromatic. What strikes you most about its formal qualities? Curator: The layering of the paint is certainly prominent. Note the distinct impasto technique and how the brushstrokes coalesce to create a sense of depth, or perhaps, a deliberate obfuscation. The restricted palette furthers this ambiguity. Editor: It feels very textured, but also like it’s concealing something. Do you think the limited palette detracts, or enhances the composition? Curator: The near-absence of chromatic variation encourages us to focus on the tonal relationships and the varying textures. It is through these elements that Moran articulates her vision. Editor: I see it now! It’s like the artist invites us to engage with the work’s surface and structure. Curator: Precisely. A deeper look reveals that the artistic intention is rooted in material exploration and formal arrangement.