Sunrise 14.8.88 1988

Editor: This is Maggi Hambling's "Sunrise 14.8.88", a watercolor piece. I find the washes of color very evocative, but also quite abstract. What strikes you most about its composition? Curator: The interplay of hues, primarily blues and yellows, creates a dynamic tension. Note how the layering of these colors implies depth, yet the overall flatness of the watercolor medium asserts the picture plane. Editor: So, you're focusing on how the materials themselves define the artwork. Curator: Precisely. The gestural strokes, combined with the transparency of the watercolor, generate a sense of immediacy. The composition directs our gaze across the surface. It is about form, not necessarily representation. Editor: I hadn't considered the "flatness" before, that's insightful. Curator: Understanding the formal elements helps us to see the artwork beyond its subject matter.