Dimensions: support: 1220 x 917 mm
Copyright: © Simon Ling | CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate
Curator: Let's explore this "Untitled" painting by Simon Ling, held in the Tate Collections, its large canvas filled with oranges in a bright orange container. What strikes you first? Editor: The sheer ordinariness of it, but rendered with such attention that it feels almost monumental, like a humble still life elevated to some grand statement. It’s so…orange. Curator: Ling's work often engages with the everyday, finding beauty in the mundane. I wonder, what does this composition say about consumerism, or perhaps the commodification of nature? Editor: Maybe it is about the abundance that's so easily accessible, yet easily overlooked. The mesh bags holding the oranges almost look like they’re trapping the vibrant life force. I find a touch of melancholy there. Curator: An interesting read. Ling is known for his direct painting style, responding immediately to what he sees. Does that immediacy come across to you? Editor: Absolutely. It feels honest, unpretentious. Like he just saw it and had to capture it. I think that's why it resonates. I appreciate the way he allows the paint itself to speak. Curator: A celebration of the ordinary, perhaps. Editor: Precisely, and a reminder to truly see what's right in front of us.
Comments
Join the conversation
Join millions of artists and users on Artera today and experience the ultimate creative platform.
Untitled 2008 is painted in oil on canvas and depicts an orange, shallow, rectangular moulded box mounted to a wall. Suspended from the interior of the box at staggered intervals are five string bags containing oranges. Loose oranges are also stacked in the lower part of the box and a gravity-defying column of fruit creeps up the left hand edge. The corners of the box have shallow circular and triangular indentations, suggesting that it has been moulded out of plastic. Three silver knobs on its lower edge suggest that it has, or once had, an electronic function, like a screen.
CollectMore like this
