In The Hothouse With Will Martyr
In The Hothouse With Will Martyr
We have partnered with London’s Maddox Gallery and Aston Martin to present A
World Elsewhere, an exhibition of paintings by British artist, Will Martyr at Maddox
Gallery Westbourne Grove until 11th June 2023.
The works are snapshots of the artist’s personal memories, collected, mixed and merged to create a sense of timeless nostalgia. In this series of paintings, Martyr explores the organic chaos of juxtaposed blooms for the first time through his paintings of two PAUL THOMAS bouquets: The Blenheim and The Chatsworth. At double life- size, the works create an extraordinary explosion of colour and detail.
To find out more, we sat down with the painter for this month’s edition of In The Hothouse.
Photography courtesy of Maddox Gallery.
Please tell us about your practice and inspirations.
I make paintings that represent snapshots of my personal memories. These memories of relaxation and reflection are collected, mixed and merged to create a sense timeless nostalgia with themes of companionship, love and contentment. The paintings aim to celebrate life, beauty and time spent with the people we love.
Do you have a favourite cut flower and why?
Tulips have always been important to me. My wife and I grew them in our garden prior to our wedding and had them line the isle at the end of the pews. Tulips have been attached to a meaning of unconditional love for centuries. I love how they go from a small bud to a silky colourful bloom overnight.
“Flowers mean love and life to me. Their ability to lift your spirits or calm you is always such a wonderful tonic.”
WILL MARTYR
What do flowers mean to you?
Flowers mean love and life to me. Their ability to lift your spirits or calm you is always such a wonderful tonic when family life and work is hectic. Taking time to sit and look at them with a coffee in the morning is a simple joy.
What flowers do you like to receive?
Anything, as long as it is frequent. Anything from dandelions and buttercups from my children to a simple bunch of daffodils in the spring.
What flowers do you like to gift?
I love to gift big, impressive blooms. I enjoy hearing form the recipient how long they have managed to sustain and rework the arrangement.
‘What Good Is Love That No One Shares’ (The Chatsworth) and ‘You Make Me Who I Never Thought I Could Be’ (The Blenheim) by Will Martyr, currently on show at Maddox Gallery Westbourne Grove.
We love your new bouquet paintings. What’s the connection between flowers and your creative process?
My painting method is incredibly intricate involving many hundreds of hours of masking shapes and mixing colours. The complex rhythms of different coloured blooms and foliage within PAUL THOMAS arrangements offered me the perfect challenge as a painter. Colour manipulation has always been the strongest aspect of my practice and working with flowers seemed a natural evolution of my paintings. In addition, the enduring themes of love, life and companionship within my paintings fit perfectly with the depiction of flowers.
“The complex rhythms of different coloured blooms and foliage within PAUL THOMAS arrangements offered me the perfect challenge as a painter.”
WILL MARTYR
Tell us more about your show at Maddox Westbourne Grove.
This is the largest body of work I have collected in a single exhibition to date. It covers three areas of imagery around the themes of companionship, love and vitality. The compositions include the figure relaxing in poolside locations, playing tennis or arranging flowers. She is either our companion or contentedly relaxing alone. She seems to be reflective, yet completely relaxed in the profoundly beautiful settings she finds herself. Her playful poise is unguarded and unposed.
What’s next for you?
I will be making a small amount of private commissions this summer before starting a new body of work which includes both painting and sculpture for exhibition in early 2024.
Quick-fire questions:
Neutral or colourful flowers?
I would choose colourful flowers.
Neat or wild arrangements?
To paint, I love your wild arrangements.
Pretty, dainty flowers or big, showy blooms?
I am all for big showy blooms.
Favourite piece from the Maddox Gallery show?
“You make me who I never thought I could be” inspired by your Blenheim arrangement.
Favourite piece from the PAUL THOMAS Summer Collection?
The Dickens is amazing.
