Suddenly Last Summer 1963

Martial Raysse made "Suddenly Last Summer" by painting on two canvases, and then adding some extra objects. I love the confident way Raysse uses the paint, just like he's sketching with the brush. The colours are so bold and unnatural that they make you see everything differently. Look at the woman's green arm and the orange background on the left. It's like he's not trying to trick you into thinking it's real, but showing you how colour can create a whole mood. The textures aren't hidden; you can see the brushstrokes, which makes the whole thing feel alive and immediate. Then, there are the actual objects added to the painting, the striped shirt and pink hat, so that the picture breaks into our space. It reminds me of some of Alex Katz's cut-out paintings where he also has figures floating in front of the painting. Art's like a conversation, right? Artists riffing off each other across time. This piece isn’t about one single meaning, it invites you to bring your own experiences and ideas into the mix.