Dinner at West Hill 1964 - 1966

Editor: This is Howard Hodgkin's *Dinner at West Hill,* a large, vibrant painting with what seems like a flurry of shapes and colors. I can almost feel the energy of the room, but I'm not sure what I'm actually *seeing*. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Hodgkin wasn't painting a literal scene, but more a memory, an emotional echo of a dinner party. It's like catching snippets of conversation, flashes of light, the overall mood distilled into pure color and form. Do you sense any particular feelings evoked by his palette? Editor: It feels joyful, almost chaotic, but in a good way! Like snippets of laughter and clinking glasses. Curator: Exactly! He captures the essence of an experience, transforming fleeting moments into something permanent and palpable. I love his playful use of abstraction. Editor: I'll never look at a dinner party the same way! It’s like he bottled the atmosphere. Curator: Yes, a sensory snapshot, and that's the beauty of it, isn't it? Art that makes you *feel*.