"The Shape of Things" at Pallant House explores a genre that has the ability to unlock the hidden beauty and expressive force of everyday objects. As someone who grew up near Morandi's studio, for me this is by no means a minor genre. If anything, as this superbly curated exhibition demonstrates, still lives are a timeless and ever relevant mirror of society that is both intimate and universal.
Striking a delicate balance between formal simplicity and emotional complexity, still lives represent the artistic triumph of the mundane over the epic. Flowers, vases, garments, foods, plants, domestic landscapes - they all have the narrative potential and emotional depth to resonate, provoke thoughts and inspire.
This is an ambitious and engaging survey that includes the work of over 100 artists working in a variety of media ranging from painting to photography, from textile (a personal favourite) to ceramics, with each medium offering its unique perspective.
Congratulations and my gratitude to Melanie Vandenbrouck, chief curator of this gem of a museum, who took time out of her busy schedule to show me around. À la prochaine!
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