Heldenplatz Painting

watercolour stick on paper Heldenplatz (‘Heroes’ Square’) resonates not only with Thomas Bernhard’s play of the same name but also with Darukhanawala’s own assertion of ‘no more heroes any more’ (c/o the Stranglers song). The fact that it is on Hilton (hotel) paper casts a wry sideways smile to one of the artist’s biggest artistic influences, Roger Hilton. The Bernhard play, the Stranglers song and Hilton’s own work all grapple at their heart with the tension between idealism (hope and the need for communication) and the bathetic reality such hopes have to contend with. And this picture is full of Darukhanawala’s trademark quasi-sexual tension-cum-resolution. There is a stark sense of night time and bright sunlight at the same time. The image is a psychological, emotional and soulful rendition of the memory of a moment when Darukhanawala was in Vienna in 2015 in an empty Heldenplatz late at night – dark sky, bright light, open expanse. The action of the lines – rushed, hectic and strong – contrast, at first sight (but not at second sight!), with the light of the sun-like, radiating yellow shape. It is a testament to Darukhanawala’s work that such a minimal image can hum and give a momentary impression alongside a lasting expression(ism). This is yet another picture (in all its psychological and emotional dimensions) to live and develop with – and which itself will grow and change with its owner. Dimensions above include frame (unframed: 148 x 105 mm.)