The aura that fills the space touches on a sense of reflective solitude, not loneliness. I built a painting around this piece attempting to touch on the privacy, intimacy and magic that an involved artist experiences as time slips away in this contemplative space. The painting contains signs and symbols from religion, astronomy, alchemy and magic. There is also visual evidence of a New York loft, empty at the moment, but waiting for a painter to bring life to it. This entire venture could be seen a s a sappy, romantic, self-indulgent idealization, except for the fact that most painters do work alone in one place for extended periods of time. This relationship between the painter and the painting is enhanced and encouraged through the particularization of the space in which the painting comes to be.
Edward Hopper
Sun in an Empty Room
1963 (160 Kb); Oil on canvas, 28 3/4 x 39 1/2 inches; Private collection
Sun in an Empty Room
1963 (160 Kb); Oil on canvas, 28 3/4 x 39 1/2 inches; Private collection
The catalyst for this piece was Edward Hopper's last painting, "Sun in an Empty Room." The room is void of people, but the light that fills the room touches upon a sense of reflective solitude, not loneliness. I built a painting around this piece trying to touch on the privacy, solitude and time that an artist experiences in this "place" researching lines of investigation while time calmly slips away. The painting contains signs and symbols from religion, astronomy, alchemy and magic. There is also visual reference to an available New York loft, empty at the moment, but waiting for an occupant to bring life to it. This whole venture could seem like a sappy, romantic, self-indulgent idealization, except for the fact that most painters do work alone in one place for extended periods. This relationship between the painter and painting is enhanced and encouraged through the particularization of the space in which the painting comes to be. I think in their hearts all painters are romantics.
The catalyst for this piece was Edward Hopper's last painting, "Sun in an Empty Room." The room is void of people, but the light that fills the room touches upon a sense of reflective solitude, not loneliness. I built a painting around this piece trying to touch on the privacy, solitude and time that an artist experiences in this "place" researching lines of investigation while time calmly slips away. The painting contains signs and symbols from religion, astronomy, alchemy and magic. There is also visual reference to an available New York loft, empty at the moment, but waiting for an occupant to bring life to it. This whole venture could seem like a sappy, romantic, self-indulgent idealization, except for the fact that most painters do work alone in one place for extended periods. This relationship between the painter and painting is enhanced and encouraged through the particularization of the space in which the painting comes to be. I think in their hearts all painters are romantics.
