Walls of Water, Maggi Hambling, at the National Gallery.
Eight paintings which Hambling began after watching gigantic waves crash on to the sea wall in Southwold, Suffolk, during a storm in 2010. 'It is a very genteel place and then suddenly nature was there like a primeval force... I've never seen waves like it, it was extraordinary. It was very beautiful but terrifying... It was life and death at the same moment I suppose, which I think any art that's worth having a go at is about. I'm trying to paint death with as much life as I can'.
This exhibition offers parallels with a display of works by 19th century Norwegian artist Peder Balke, (post to follow) which is on at the same time.
I love Maggi Hambling's responses to water. There was also a fantastic exhibition of her monotypes of water at Marlborough Fine Art recently: http://www.marlboroughfineart.com/prints-Maggi-Hambling-54.html
ReplyDeleteI think that she captures the North Sea wondrously.
She does indeed. And thanks for the link, Olga.
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