Gateway 

Editor: So, here we have "Gateway" by Hercules Brabazon Brabazon, created in watercolor, showcasing a sun-drenched cityscape. The artwork really gives off a serene, almost dreamlike quality, especially with the hazy rendering of light and the glimpse of the sea through the archway. What really strikes me is how softly the watercolor is handled. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Well, "Gateway" has this wonderful 'postcard' quality. Brabazon’s landscapes were often quick impressions, fleeting moments captured en plein air. This technique gives the buildings and landscape an ephemeral feel, as if we're looking at a memory rather than a literal place. Notice how the archway frames the azure glimpse of the water. Doesn't it almost feel like a stage curtain being drawn back? Does it hint at the possibilities that lie beyond the familiar? Editor: It does! It also gives it a sense of depth that isn't so apparent at first glance. The colours also feel incredibly organic, connecting to Brabazon's pursuit of capturing scenes firsthand in nature. Curator: Precisely. The limited palette is working hard here – earthy ochres and siennas meet cool blues and greens, really evoking a sense of warmth, and also tranquility. Are we seeing a physical gateway, or maybe something more metaphorical? Perhaps Brabazon wants us to consider our own passages, transitions. And in watercolour no less! It's tricky, this technique really asks for confidence. Editor: I never considered that aspect, of a watercolour linking to confidence. Now I can appreciate better how much artistry underlies the final artwork! Curator: Glad to bring fresh perspectives. Art's a personal gateway. It's exciting.