Some days its harder than others to get a post out, which is why employment as a writer could be quite daunting. However – lets give this a try without boring your socks off. I’ve been mulling over contemporary art a lot lately, and I am still unsure of that definition (help me out someone). I’ve written before about my growing up with art, but I was thinking of those “wow” moments when you see something that really impacts on you. The first that I can remember is this.
The Fighting Temeraire, (1838) William Turner
Turner referred to this painting as “My Darling”, and refused to sell it. My experience of it was on a jig-jaw puzzle, which I guess is pretty funny. Until I saw it I didn’t understand about painting light, which was amazing even in a poor reproduction cut into 5000 pieces.
As life rolls on the moments happen less frequently but I try to take better note now. Another painting I remember from childhood distinctly but different reasons is “The Gleaners”
The GleanersJean François Millet
A print of this was outside the headmasters office at my primary school where I spent a substantial amount of time. Oddly I find it very calming.
I wonder how I’d find these paintings “in real life”. I was reminded how different art is when you confront it for real on my last visit to Te Papa’s Art of the Nation exhibit. It is all familiar stuff, so like visiting old friends but the pictures are so alive. Reproductions somehow flatten and drain the life out of many images. Seeing art in the flesh gets me excited about it again. I liked how when I was there the main entrance looks straight in onto McCahon’s Northland Panels (or maybe I am imagining that?).
Northland Panels (1958) Colin McCahon
So there – three (or 10?) of my favourite works. I just noticed how light is important in each one. Predictable yes, but they all make me smile.
Oh yes – although our readership possibly has a certain amount of cross-over, if anyone could answer Best-of-3’s question about the origin of red dots or pins in galleries – well I’d like to know too.
[…] is a lot you can criticise about Te Papa (and I have) but just to be able to wander in and visit my old friends is magic. I know that the Dunedin Art Gallery is good but what will it bring? I did see my first […]