Debussy: Sunken Cathedral 1993

Maria Bozoky made this watercolour and ink artwork, called 'Debussy: Sunken Cathedral', whose title nods to the composer and his evocative piece of music. I imagine Bozoky dabbing at the paper, building up the atmospheric washes of colour in layers, one over the other. Then she comes in with the ink, scratching and scribbling the architectural details of the cathedral. There's a tension here between the solid, imposing building and the ethereal, dreamlike quality of the medium. The red figure in the foreground offers a focal point for our own emotional engagement. What is this person thinking or feeling, at this exact moment? It reminds me of other artists, such as Turner, who used watercolour to capture light and atmosphere. And yet, Bozoky's marks have a rawness and immediacy that feels very personal. This is a dialogue between herself, other painters, and, most importantly, the music that inspired her, all blended together through the physical act of painting. It’s like she's channeling Debussy's sound world into a visual form, inviting us to listen with our eyes.