Old Altar Piece 2010

Editor: We’re looking at Frank Bowling’s "Old Altar Piece" from 2010. The mixed media and acrylic on canvas really gives it a textured feel. There’s something so raw and visceral about it. It feels like peering into the earth itself. What do you make of it? Curator: Ah, Bowling. A master of colour and texture! The 'Old Altar Piece', eh? For me, it sings of memory, doesn't it? Look at the way he layers the paint – acrylic, yes, but more than that. It's like archaeological strata, each layer whispering a different story. Does it remind you of Rothko’s chapel? Editor: I see what you mean. There's a contemplative stillness in there. But Rothko feels more… defined somehow. Bowling feels like he's actively unearthing something. Curator: Precisely! It's an active, almost violent process. Think of Bowling's Guyanese roots, that yearning for a homeland – is he digging into a personal history, or maybe something deeper, something universal? What about the borders? Yellow on one side and intense blue on the bottom... Like sunlight after rain, or perhaps like stained glass? Editor: That's a really interesting reading. It feels very hopeful despite the rawness we were talking about earlier. So the Altar piece almost becomes… celebratory? Curator: Exactly! Maybe not in a traditional, loud way. More of a quiet recognition of beauty wrested from chaos, you know? It makes you wonder, what sort of sacred spaces can be built from the debris of the world? Editor: I see. This really reframes my understanding of Bowling. I appreciate the new insights and layers in his art. Thanks for sharing. Curator: My pleasure. Always remember, the truest readings are found where art and the heart intersect.