Week #8 - Philip Bacon Gallery

Ralph Wilson

"My earliest memories are full of water and boats and shorelines seen from boats on the water. It feels as if these elements held me with their own gravitational pull from the beginning and there was no possibility of turning away. 

From my father and grandfather I learnt that the water and sky have stories to share with us. The fleets of clouds that sailed over us whispers things that Dad understood and he would translate for me. Grandpa would listen to the water with his eyes and sniff the wind and feel the clouds, then quietly mention that I shouldn't delay returning to harbour after the sailing race that afternoon. A storm would be visiting later. And visit it would, with all hell breaking loose over our little fleet after its calm and dark approach.

After most of a lifetime spent on or near the water, the obsession has only deepened and the sea and the sky continue to cast their spell with a power that will tolerate nothing less than my undiluted attention. So there is no choice in the matter really. Some sort of homage must be paid to these fundamental elements. And if I do turn away now and then, it is only to return and find that spell fall on me again - but stronger.

I can't imagine my future without the sea and attempting to make some sort of record of its wonders."

Storm at sea, sundown, Ralph Wilson, 2015

Gallery - installation view.

---------Follow Up Questions----------

What is Ralph Wilson's predominate medium and surface?

Wilson is a painter that works with oil on board. He is predominately a landscape painter.

What is Wilson’s major theme?

Wilson has a passion for landscape paintings, usually of the sky/sea. 

Briefly discuss your favourite painting by Wilson and why it is so.

My favourite painting is Storm at sea, sundown. This painting caught my eye straight away. It is a beautiful work that shows the relationship between the sky and the sea during a storm. There is so much energy and movement in this work. The colours are beautiful and they really resonate with me. When I look at this painting I can picture the storm, I can see the sea battling with the sky. 

In what way does architecture contribute to the notion of value in Philip Bacon Gallery

The Philip Bacon Gallery is a high art gallery. The architecture is modern and there are a lot of wooden elements. There are also many different gallery spaces, each with their own attendants, both upstairs and downstairs. The space reflects the calibre of art that is shown. The whole gallery screams "expensive".