My partner, Deborah Klein, and I have just returned to Melbourne after seeing an incredible exhibition of the work of Magritte. Hosted by the Art Gallery of NSW, it would have to be one of the greatest exhibitions I've ever seen.
There were so many iconic paintings, many of them from the Menil Collection in Houston. So many paintings engaged my attention for some time, much longer than I would normally look at a work. The crowds were steady but not overwhelming, to the point where I could stand in front of a painting and have it all to myself.
I've always seen most of Magritte's works reproduced in books and I've always thought of him as a good technician but the the actual paintings revealed to me an artist of high technical ability. It just doesn't come through that way in books. The colours were exquisite and although you cannot see his brushwork, the richness of the colours elevated the work from being inert renditions.
The curatorial design of the show deserved high praise. The rooms were arranged in chronological order so his development as an artist was easy to contemplate. It was so interesting to see his early work and the amazing change that took place that made him the artist we have come to know. The lighting was excellent and occasionally a painting was hung higher than the line of sight to reflect the same high sightline of the composition.
His ideas are wonderful. A mixture of humour, darkness and absurdity, but they seem to touch something within humanity. They aren't really puzzles to solve or even something to think about but more like something to feel. Although Magritte said his ideas are thoughts in paint, his thoughts make us feel more than they make us think.
Below are some of the images from the exhibition.
