Gateway to British Art Prize 2023
Runner-up: Camila Caffarena
Since the beginning of time, human beings have had an undeniable and deep connection with nature. That relationship evolved over time and went from being merely a survival relationship to a deep relationship with our being. Nature influences our moods, and cultivating a relationship with it can make us happier than we imagine. A small breeze that caresses our faces in the morning, the ray of sunlight that sneaks through the window and illuminates our homes, watching a wonderful sunset after a long day at work, all these small gestures that nature gives us daily influence our mood and help us connect with ourselves. It is because of this that the Joseph Mallord William Turner pieces in the Yale Center for British Art's In a New Light exhibition have won my heart. They show not only the beauty of the everyday, but also the deep relationship between human beings and nature.
Among so many works exhibited, so many nuances, colors, shapes, and strokes, I found myself in a work and the connection was immediate, not only because of the beauty of the piece, but also what it represents for me. I could see myself inside it. Harlech Castle, from Tygwyn Ferry, Summer's Evening Twilight is a piece that I can describe as captivating, starting with the striking harmony of its colors and composition, making the viewer travel with the gaze from one point to another, and immerse themselves, not only in the beauty and delicacy of the strokes and contrasts, its lights and shadows, but also in the depths of their thoughts, letting themselves be carried away by the feelings evoked by this wonderful representation of twilight.
Moreover, the twilight stands as an interval before sunrise and after sunset, where the sky is illuminated with an infinity of wonderful colors that reach the depths of your soul, representing the end of one day as well as the beginning of another, and in turn symbolizes for me the closing of one stage of life and the future of another. Appreciating this wonderful phenomenon is one of my favorite moments of the day, as it is a moment of deep reflection, where I find myself and my most cherished desires. Contemplating this piece produced in me a very similar feeling, creating an instantaneous connection between myself and the artwork.
Furthermore, when I contemplated the elements that make up the work, the first thing that caught my attention is the family that observes the twilight and the immensity of the sea. I like to imagine that it is a united, dreamy, and resilient family, that despite what they have—or what they don't—they enjoy the beauty of everyday life in the present. Then, my eyes traveled to the shipyard, which symbolizes the future, a new beginning, a new path to travel, and an adventure to undertake. Also, it symbolizes the process of building something one step at a time, with patience and determination, so that when the work is done, it drives us to set sail and enjoy the journey that awaits us in life. The castle in the background, on the other hand, symbolizes the passage of time, the roots of oneself that always remain within the heart, the place to which, no matter how far away one is, one can always return and find oneself again. Lastly, the twilight represents the passage of time and the sea the immensity of life and its infinite possibilities.
If I could draw myself in this work, I would draw myself on the rocks on the left, sitting on the ground, in direct contact with the natural landscape, enjoying the rays of the sun on my cheeks, the sound of the sea, the laughter of the family, contemplating the wonderful spectacle that the twilight has to offer me, connected to the deep self while thankful for the opportunities of the past, the battles of the present, and the adventures that the future holds.