Choosing art for your home can present a dilemma. Do you focus on finding pieces which merely suit the décor or style of the room or should you focus on the work that inspires you? I find that the art I choose for my home doesn’t really work unless it does provoke some sort of emotional response in me. I soon tire of the pieces that I have chosen merely because they fit.
The New Lowry?
I am a great fan of Alexander Miller, a British artist whose work always puts me in mind of the great LS Lowry. There is something personal and touching about pictures which highlight the details of the most ordinary existences whilst celebrating the spirit of the subjects and the world they inhabit. The otherwise sad and banal becomes intriguing and uplifting.
The Characters
Lowry’s work is notable for the crowds in urban landscapes whereas Miller’s puts individuals very much in the spotlight by depicting single figures, couples and small groups. The characters that populate his work are often viewed from behind. You rarely see their faces and so everything you need to know about them comes from their body language, demeanour and clothing. Miller’s subjects somehow always feel like they are in motion and each work is a little snapshot in time. Nonetheless you feel that you know what went before and what is to come for the people in the pictures.
Gadgies and Missiles
The faceless people represent working class life and the local communities they inhabit. They speak for everyone and yet are quite clearly individuals. Many of these characters are “gadgies”. This is a Geordie term for a bloke and in the case of Miller’s work the gadgies are generally working class men in caps which have been inspired by his own grandfather. Miller also has a fascination with what he describes as “missile shaped” women!
Sadness and Humour
There is a wry humour to Miller’s work which has probably been the key to his success. He is one of the most popular artists working today. You can’t help but admire his ability to summon so many emotions from one figure and his extraordinary use of light certainly transforms the otherwise ordinary into the truly extraordinary. His work is a powerful combination of humour and sadness that always prompts you to stop and think, mainly about the characters that have populated or passed through your own life.
Art is a very personal thing and so should it be in the home. Buy art because you love it, not because it matches the furniture. There are so many wonderful works to choose from that there will always be pieces which both delight you and suit your home. I met an art collector once who had spent millions on his collection but who never insured it. He said art wasn’t about the money, it was about enjoying the work and I couldn’t agree more, not that I have millions to spend!
Article by Sally Stacey