This afternoon I went to the Walker Art Gallery to see the Liverpool cityscape painting by Ben Johnson.
The picture has been on display during 2008, Liverpool’s Capital of Culture year.
I’d seen it on tv and on postcards, but there’s no substitute for studying it up close.
There is an astounding level of detail. The image was created using intricate stencils and spray paint. Small details were painted using a tiny brush. The painting was begun in 2005 and completed during a residency at the Walker Art Gallery in 2008. As with other works by Ben Johnson, a small team of assistants worked full time on the project.
Also on display were the artist’s cityscape paintings of Hong Kong, Jerusalem, Zurich, and architectural paintings of the Rookery Building Chicago and the Louvre Pyramid, Paris.
The paintings have a richness and precision very pleasing to the eye. And yet there is an emptiness about them. That’s because there are no people or vehicles. The artist invites people to enter the picture mentally, and add their own memories and associations.
I’m very glad I came to see it. I found much inspiration for my own cityscape photos, one of which I have been working on using the MacBook Pro. Today was the last day of the exhibition. I stayed till the gallery closed, and I was the very last visitor to see it.
It will be going on display at the futuristic museum of Liverpool History, currently nearing completion by the Pier Head.
I took the National Express coach from Manchester to Liverpool (cost 6.50 return). On the outbound trip I chatted to retired photographer Patrick Black from Poynton. He told me about his extensive photo archive, and hope to follow this up.
Weather in Liverpool: Cloudy, mild.