Just as I have reached the point at which I can launch myself properly into a new piece of work I have received a piece of very sad news. A friend and former colleague wrote to tell me of the death of his wife. I expect the work to have to do in a variety of ways with my recurring theme of “time”. Without intending this, I wonder whether, to what extent and in what ways today’s news will be enshrined permanently in this new image.
I ask myself this because it is not unusual for me to have the experience of looking at a finished piece only to discover that the marks of its context in time have been written into it independently of any intention on my part.