August 28, 2018
The inspiration and starting point for this new body of paintings is Des Meeres und der Liebe Wellen (The Waves of Sea and Love) by the Austrian dramatist Franz Grillparzer (1791-1872). This is a re-telling of the classical myth of Hero, the Greek priestess of Aphrodite at Sestos, who was seen at a festival by Leander of Abydos. They fell in love and he swam the Hellespont at night to visit her, guided by a light from her tower. One stormy night the light was extinguished and Leander was drowned; Hero, seeing his body, drowned herself.
This new exhibition has at its heart an allegorical painting in six parts: two large scale sea paintings – Des Meeres und der Liebe Wellen part I and Des Meeres und der Liebe Wellen part II; two large scale seated female figures – My nature yields, and yielding finds itself part III and You swam here, from Abydus distant shore part IV; and two medium sea paintings – Leander, Leander part V and Liebe, Liebe part VI.
To read more including Professor Mary Modeen’s essay and view the whole collection click here to view the e-catalogue