“It’s more like I’m having an experience than making a picture.” Cy Twombly We lost one of our greatest painters this week. He certainly lived a long life and was incredibly productive throughout. Hero and Leander (to Christopher Marlowe), Rome 1985, 202 x 254, Cy Twombly. My first experience of seeing one of his paintings in person was when I wandered into a room full of his chalkboard paintings at the Hirshorn in Washington DC twenty-four years ago. It looked something like this ... from menil.org After being blown away by those I followed his paintings for years, always instantly recognizable, always beautiful in their urgent, intense way. Look what he does to some paper and scotch tape. Stunning. Untitled, 1974. Wax paper, pencil, scotch tape, collage 75 x 106cm. Cy Twombly. And guess what? He attended Black Mountain College too. What is it about that school?! Today I spent some time delving into his sculptures. I had seen very few of these and had no idea he had created so many. Untitled, New York 1953. wood, wire, twine, nails, housepaint and wax on cloth, 15 9 7/8" x 4" Collection of Robert Rauschenberg. His gesture translates effortlessly between materials. His fingerprints show through it all. Orpheus (Du Unendliche Spur) 1979. Wood, nails, paint, graphite. 266 x 244 x 22.2 cm. Collection of the artist by Cy Twombly. Read his obituary in the New York Times. And visit his website here.
