Moved to tears

There I was, sat on the sofa, innocently catching up with my educational viewing.  Suddenly my eyes were leaking uncontrollably.  No build-up, no forewarning, no prior tugging on my emotional heartstrings - just spontaneous, unexpected tears.  It was a freaky but nonetheless wonderful experience.

So what was it all about?  Well, I was about three quarters of the way through the BBC 2 Culture Show special on David Hockney's show, "A Bigger Picture", at the Royal Academy.  I was enjoying the programme: Andrew Marr was asking engaging questions, Hockney was talking eminent sense (as usual).  His huge canvasses were impressive, skilful and full of life (see above), but I was focused on hearing what Hockney had to say. Then they hit me with the multiple screen images...

Press Image: Winter Timber, 2009 | © David Hockney | Photo: Jonathan Wilkinson

These are films which are taken using nine cameras mounted to a framework.  This means that the full picture is made up of nine screens each showing their portion of the image, but at slightly different angles (this article from the Royal Academy magazine explains the process a little more). The technique has similarities to Hockney's montaged photography - but instead of stills, uses moving images.  I don't think I've ever seem something two dimensional so closely capture light or life.  Incredibly beautiful said my brain, and my emotions clearly agreed...I'd been moved to tears.

While I can't show you here, if you're quick you can catch the programme on the BBC iPlayer for another three days.  Or, you could even go see the exhibition..!

Birmingham joins Pugin Celebrations

A chance reading of a retweet last night from Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery has alerted me to the fact that we are celebrating Pugin’s bicentenary this year.  Two hundred years since the gothic revivalist and ever-so-slightly-decorative master was born.  

Definitely the kick up the behind I need to go and explore the interior of St Chad’s Cathedral – as it’s rumoured to rival the Houses of Parliament.  And the kind folks at Birmingham Museums / the Pugin Society have put together a trail of other Pugin highlights found in the city.  (Apparently available at city tourist offices now, though I won't be in Birmingham to grab mine until Saturday.)



Hardman Design - for auction(!) at Biddle & Webb, 2 March

As part of a host of bicentennial celebrations in Birmingham (see information here), there will be an exhibition at the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter – opening on 22 March.  This will feature the work of John Hardman Jr, who produced a lot of the metalwork and stained glass for Pugin right in the heart of Birmingham. 

I think, between the trail and the exhibition, it looks like I may just get my glass fix!