Last week while in London, I spent an afternoon at one of my favorite spots, The National Gallery.
On view through February 15th is “Walls of Water“, a show featuring a series of paintings by British artist Maggi Hambling.
Eight canvases line the walls of the small gallery dedicated to the show. Each work is large, most measuring more than six by seven feet.
At a first (very quick) glance, I was unimpressed. In my hasty scan of the room all I could see were large messes of house paint spilled carelessly across canvas.
My opinion quickly changed after I took a moment to pause and consider the painting pictured above. Following a few quiet breaths I was sucked into the complex patterns of paint, was swallowed up by the power of the piece, was drowning in emotions.
Each work overwhelmed with energy created by Hambling’s intricately laid out splashes and drips and stabbings of paint. Waves and shadowy figures emerged before me only to disappear as I examined another layer of paint. Each one felt as if it literally was hitting me in the face. The works were forceful. Angry. Violent. Raw
I couldn’t tear myself away.
All photos by Nicole Weiler. Shot at the National Gallery, London.