Antonia Blocker has penned an insightful essay, published in the catalogue for Can The Seas Survive Us?, alluding to my work in direct comparison to that of Maggi Hambling and Margaret Mellis, nonetheless.
‘While Hambling, Cansick and Mellis may not be overt in their activism, the works hold a soft power. Rather than raising awareness or coercing concern through didactic means, these artists urge the viewer. Through creating a shared experience of a moment of being connected to nature, they concvince the viewer. In other words, they move us to care.’
In this particular passage, Antonia has put her finger on the pulse of why I am compelled to paint the natural world; it comes straight from my heart.
‘Antonia Blocker is a curator predominantly interested in how audiences engage with artistic practices beyond the exhibition format. She was formerly Curator: Public Programmes at Whitechapel Gallery and has previously worked in public programming at the Institute of Contemporary Arts and Serpentine Galleries. She is on the board of trustees at Lighthouse, a Brighton-based arts charity. She has an MA in Curating Contemporary Art from the Royal College of Art.’
A fascinating read, the catalogue is full of diverse perspectives, factual, historical, visual and poetic content.
Available for the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts.
Painting: I Can See The Sea, 2022. Private Collection.