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As a young boy at the age of ten I had a keen interest in maritime shipping: tugs, pilot boats, coasters, ocean-going vessels, minesweepers, destroyers, Tall Ships, cruisers, battleships and last but not least aircraft carriers.
Yesterday afternoon we visited a museum with work of Dutch Magic Realism painters, blending in highly detailed, realistic techniques with strange, dreamlike, or uncanny elements, portraying the mundane through a mysterious lens. Key figures in this international field include Frida Kahlo, Carel Willink, whose paintings often have a somewhat ominous undertone, Ivan Albright, George Tooker, and René Magritte.
One of these Dutch painters is Jan van den Brink (1939 - 2020]. As an architect, he designed many buildings. His background as an architect is always evident in his paintings. On his travels, he drew inspiration for the distinctive forms and figures that feature in his work. Quote from an art review: ‘He possesses knowledge of both ancient civilisations and art history. When this is combined with a skilful fine-painting technique and an excellent sense of colour and composition, it inevitably results in beautiful works of art.’
Tucked away in a corner, my childhood interests, ancient civilisations and the present suddenly came together when I saw one of his works hanging there. An aircraft carrier that had strayed slightly off course, if it ever had one.
Perhaps a nice title for a new book: Ships & the Desert.
