NEWS
Meet Charlie Hall, Arts Society speaker
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For anyone who is thinking of asking me to come and give an Arts Society talk, here is a brief introduction.
Some Thoughts Inspired by Viewing Giotto's Arena Chapel frescoes
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Last Saturday, I was with a group of our students in Padua, admiring the exceptional fresco cycle created by the Florentine artist, Giotto di Bondone, completed over, we estimate, a period of about two years or just more than 600 ‘giornate’ from 1303 to 1305. One of the panels is an image that has always drawn my attention, not for its subject or indeed for its pathos (The ‘Expulsion of Joachim from the Temple’ gets that prize for me). It is the simple, but arresting design of the story that grabs us. ‘The Scourging of Christ’ (or ‘The Mocking’) has, as its visual pivot, not Christ himself, but one of the people responsible for his punishment. With a rod in his hand raised, a black man is at the centre of the image. On the left is Christ, seated on a throne, being mocked, and on the right is Pontius Pilate and the priests, so essentially, even though the man with the whip is ‘out of the action’ (in that the actual ‘scourging’ is over) he is integral to it, Christ has already been beaten and is seated, with the imperial robe and crown of thorns but in order for the story to run we need to see the action. Read more...
Poetic Conversations
I am really honoured to have been invited to take part in Hitomi Grace Utsugi's wonderful website, Poetic Conversations in which people comment on a piece of poetry that has resonated with them.
I have chosen 'Ode on a Grecian Urn' by John Keats, in which he asks us to consider mortality, the passage of time, and what remains for us to muse on. Anyone who has ever accompanied me to Tivoli, and stood by the wonderful 1st century BC temple, and listened to me speak about Walter Pater, the enjoyment and appreciation of the 'Now!', the moment, will be familiar with my sentiments.
https://www.poeticconversation.com/presentations/ode-on-a-grecian-urn-john-keats-charlie-hall
Our predecessors, left us with words, objects, buildings and more, leaving their mark, continuing to tell stories beyond, and we follow in their stride, becoming creators and torchbearers for what speaks to us. Immersed in the world of art history and captivated by the ancient pottery from the Etruscan civilisation, Charlie Hall introduces us to the Aristonothus Krater; and like the poet, John Keats, drawn to the scenes of classical Grecian art on objects, Charlie marries Keats’ Ode on a Grecian Urn with the ancient vase, communicating virtues of beauty and truth.
Ode on a Grecian Urn by John Keats Presented by Charlie Hall
Director of John Hall Venice
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Cornelia Parker and her
Desert Island Art
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Continuing with my series of artists and their Desert Island Art, in January I am at Soho House, Greek Street for a discussion with the exceptional talent that is Cornelia Parker, described by Tate as "one of Britain's best loved and most acclaimed contemporary artists. Always driven by curiosity, she reconfigures domestic objects to question our relationship with the world. Using transformation, playfulness and storytelling, she engages with important issues of our time, be it violence, ecology or human rights."
We will talk about her career and her practice and then finish the evening off with a selection of a few pieces that have moved, amused, inspired or even revolted her.
If you are a member of Soho House you can contact them directly, if not, simply use my 'contact' form. It already looks as if it's going to be a roadblock, so be sure to reserve your seat early to avoid disappointment, as they say.
The event will be at 18:30 on Tuesday, January 24th 2022 in the 'Club Room' at Soho House on Greek Street.
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Art Talks Return - November 15th 2022
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After a long pandemic-driven hiatus the Art Talks in collaboration with Soho House returns! I have gently re-jigged the format, in honour of Nick Jones’ wonderful partner, Kirsty Young, we will be running ‘Desert Island Art’, in which artists discuss (about) eight works that have inspired, interested, informed their working practice.
The 2022 John Hall Venice reunion
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Having postponed our party this year due to concerns in January that, with a couple of days to go before the group had to take LFTs in order to fly to Venice, a potential 'super-spreader event' might be asking for trouble, we decided to hold the party in May, when we were all safely home and the sun would be out.
In fact, the rain and wind had only just settled down, and we gathered in the magnificent library of The Travellers Club on Pall Mall. Very sadly, due to 'mobility issues', the founder and leader of the course, John Hall himself was unable to attend, but we raised many glasses to him and speeches were made, in particular from Sir Michael Burton.
It was really super to see so many friends, with great shows from the years 1981, 1995 and 2017, groups who appear to have kept in touch throughout the years. The originals, the 1965 team were well-represented, I was delighted that Joanna Glynn (1978) appeared to keep me company, and the 2022 year turned up, and after some crafty outfit editing even Jude Millais was allowed in (although a few of the 2017 group had clearly not read the memo about dress code!)
It was very moving and highly pleasing to see what a long term effect the course has had on many people, long may it continue!
The last day, The Villa d'Este and our lunch in Tivoli
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The John Hall Venice Course 2022
"Every moment some form grows perfect in hand or face; some tone on the hills or the sea is choicer than the rest; some mood of passion or insight or intellectual excitement is irresistibly real and attractive to us, –for that moment only. Not the fruit of experience, but experience itself, is the end. A counted number of pulses only is given to us of a variegated, dramatic life. How may we see in them all that is to seen in them by the finest senses? How shall we pass most swiftly from point to point, and be present always at the focus where the greatest number of vital forces unite in their purest energy? To burn always with this gem-like flame, to maintain this ecstasy, is success in life"
and
"When old age shall this generation waste
thou shalt remain,
In midst of other woes than ours,
A friend to man, to whom thou sayest
Beauty is truth,
Truth is beauty.
That is all ye know on Earth
And all ye need to know"
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Words from two of my favourite writers, Walter Pater, the 'founder' of the aesthetic movement, who believed in experience (rather than 'the fruits of experience', in other words, to live, and love and lose, but be in the 'now', and of course, John Keats, who has been with us the entire time throughout the course, the final lines of his Ode to a Grecian Urn, trying to covey to us what is important in Life. Each one of us on the course, whether student, lecturer, visitor, has experienced the time in a unique way. We require no written work, no memorising of facts, no unification of what we have experienced. Only one thing, the ability to experience beauty, because that is free. Incredibly, as I finish packing and prepare to head off to the airport, we have reached the end of our amazing nine weeks together, and another John Hall Venice course comes to a close. Our traditional last lunch together was beneath the early blossoms of the wisteria at the Ristorante Sibilla, having paid a languid visit to the fantastic hanging gardens of the Villa d'Este, built by hydraulic engineers and architects for the cardinal, Ippolito d'Este. With fountains there are one of the wonders of the Baroque world, with hundreds of jets, explosive, towering waters, extraordinary sculpture in liquid. We walked through Tivoli and ended up in the Ristorante Sibilla, next to a wonderful, ancient temple and tucked into our delicious meal... ...and now, to airports, families, cups of tea...and another year awaits us all.
