Cy Twombly - BLOOMING

The main body of the installation consists of a landscape off tone base, flourished with bright scarlet flower-like organic, free-flowing markings, which the artist let drip downwards. This is all evenly balanced throughout the board, and it is clear Twombly has chosen to avoid imposing excessive control over his brush, as the marks seem to stay considerably loose. The markings are layered and become increasingly concentrated in tone at the front, creating a sense of depth, as the eye is naturally drawn to the final layer, but is acutely aware of the background layering that is going on. All of this is slapped onto a 250 x 505 board, meaning that the life exhibition experience must be intended to be more imposing and overwhelming that a print, which does not invade the audience's peripherical vision this way. The blotches of colour feel like they're everywhere and invading: they can't be ignored no matter how much you might want to step away to rest from the beautiful eyesore they are in contrast to the bleak atonal background. From first sight, they look passionate, elegant but slightly forceful into your mind, like they want to be seen. Had I have to give them a personification, I'd represent them through someone who'd feel like a breath of fresh air, one of those people that when you meet them to wake you up after some time you've felt like walking in the fog. The title of the work of art could easily be interpreted to that Blooming means a wake-up call, a new beginning, whether it is having blooming feelings for someone, or newly found excitement and interest for something. Whatever it is, the overloaded, dripping brushstrokes evoke a sense of plentifulness, of increasing health or wealth, taking to the letter the Chinese meaning of red, happiness.