Beach Scene 1982

Malcolm Morley’s ‘Beach Scene’ looks like it was made with a kind of joyful abandon, as though he’s throwing paint at the canvas to see what might happen. There's something deeply satisfying about the way he allows the texture and physicality of the medium to remain visible. The paint is neither too thick nor too thin, and there are moments where you can almost see his hand moving across the surface, leaving behind these energetic trails of pigment. Look at the yellow of the beach, notice the blobs and marks. It’s so immediate, so full of life. It's almost as if Morley isn't just painting a beach scene, but also painting the very act of painting itself. I love the way he builds up layers of colour and texture, creating this sense of depth and movement. It reminds me of some of Joan Mitchell’s paintings, the way she uses colour to evoke a feeling or a memory. Ultimately, what strikes me most about this piece is its embrace of ambiguity and multiple interpretations. There's no right or wrong way to experience it, and I think that's precisely the point.