Burning Merit 1985

Curator: Richard Hambleton’s "Burning Merit," painted in 1985 using mixed media, primarily acrylic paint, captures a scene of intense drama. What strikes you initially about this work? Editor: The visual impact is undeniable. It feels chaotic, almost apocalyptic. A ship ablaze, set against a turbulent sky... it evokes a real sense of disaster and immediacy. Curator: Hambleton emerged from the vibrant New York art scene of the 1980s. His art often grapples with themes of urban decay, social anxieties, and the pervasive sense of unease in a rapidly changing world. Given this, what cultural narratives do you see reflected in "Burning Merit"? Editor: Well, the burning ship itself carries symbolic weight. Fire often represents destruction, but also purification. In the context of the '80s, amidst economic anxieties and the looming AIDS crisis, I wonder if the burning ship becomes a metaphor for a society teetering on the edge of self-destruction or maybe burning away the status quo, suggested also in the title? Curator: The name “Merit” itself is interesting, maybe it's ironic. What would be considered “meritorious” in the face of such destruction? And what of that word scrawled at the bottom—could it allude to ideas of worth and moral justification amid the surrounding turmoil? Editor: The prominence of that horizon and ship speaks volumes, I think. In so many cultures, water represents the unconscious, the source of life and potential danger. A ship is about transit, maybe suggesting an uncertain passage from one state to another—burning all the way through... Curator: Exactly. This imagery resonates powerfully with the socio-political anxieties of the time. Furthermore, Hambleton's stylistic choices, rooted in Abstract Expressionism, also contribute to its impact. The loose brushstrokes and dramatic use of light and shadow heighten the emotional intensity, amplifying the sense of impending doom and moral uncertainty. Editor: It also reflects enduring concerns of progress and catastrophe, reminding us how civilizations always risk collapsing despite aspirations towards "merit." Curator: That's a brilliant observation. Thank you! Editor: My pleasure! This painting truly makes one reflect upon what remains when all seems lost.