Childish things
Here’s a new painting, inspired by a Victorian doll’s house at Salford Museum and Art Gallery. I enjoyed painting this one – ideas for future paintings are starting to percolate.
More from Croatia and a trip to the Konavle Regional Museum.
I was struck by these portraits documenting the traditional dress of the region. The costumes are heavily coded and indicate age, region and marital status. The faces, framed with all these decorative elements, made me think of sunflowers. Middle-row-right is absolutely rocking it.
The next room along housed an exhibition about local children’s author and boxer, Ratko Zvrko.
Grga Cvarak is Zvrko’s classic poem, about a boy who was both “the naughtiest and the best” child in the village. He is forever causing trouble, but the poem never condemns him outright – instead it celebrates childhood energy, imagination and imperfection.
Escaping the heat this week by taking shade under the magnolia tree at the bottom of the garden. A perilous situation as these (beautiful) catkins have been raining down on me all day.
One hundred and eighty-two
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Well spotted on the Marge's hair/magnolia pods!