Mirror 2017

Nick Alm’s painting, Mirror, is an exercise in observation and process. There's an incredible rendering of light in this piece, see how it hits the ginger hair. It feels like looking through a rainy window. The surface is alive with tiny movements of the brush. Up close, you can see how the textures of the skin and fabric are built up with layers of subtle colours. The grey background is not just grey, but a complex blend of tones. The way the light catches the hair held aloft has an emotional resonance. Is she frustrated, or is there something more joyful at play? This picture puts me in mind of Jenny Saville, but I am also reminded of older traditions of figurative painting. Ultimately, art is an ongoing conversation that takes place across generations. What do you make of it?