RAIN
We have a few works at Hamilton Gallery currently as part of our ‘Elements’ show, depicting or referring to rain. Cape Town has been teasing us with some intermittent sunny weather, but the predominant forecast has been ‘partly cloudy’ (the title of one of Dave Robertson’s available prints), or ‘65% rain,’ with even a weather warning or two.
With fires raging across Europe, news of unprecedented heatwaves, and our not-too-distant memories of the drought we experienced in the Cape and further afield, the rain we are experiencing is relatively mild, and although we tend to complain, it is much needed and ultimately appreciated.
Dave Robertson
Dave Robertson created a rain-centered series of photographic prints, capturing street scenes including figures and settings affected by falling rain. He shows people moving and interacting in response to the rain, and allows the streaks, drips, and splatters to be a focal point of his images.
In his ‘Searle Street no. 1,’ a man walks with a blue umbrella, his body distorted by the water—resulting in an abstracted form in a dreamlike landscape. The presence of the rain, the cold tones, and the black figure in motion remind us of the jolting and invigorating rush when rushing toward shelter in cold, wet weather. This image takes you into the experience of the person moving through the wet streets of Cape Town.
‘Partly Cloudy no. 1’ is a fun, brightly colored portrayal of shapes that remind one of clouds, with ovals and dots interspersed. These could be read as raindrops, or reflections of clouds in a body of water—there are hints of rocks, ripples, water, and blue sky. The work has a playful and bold composition, perfect as a central piece in a wall collage.
Dave’s image titled, ‘Main Road No. 1, Sea Point,’ is also taken through a moving car window with raindrops obscuring the scene. Two people walk determinedly toward a dry destination, framed by a Mondrian-style backdrop of large square grids. One can again feel the chill, imagine the sound of water being sprayed up from fast-turning wheels of passing traffic, and the rush of activity that heavy rain can propel into motion.
Katherine Hamilton
Katherine Hamilton’s ‘Rain No.1’, is an abstracted photograph depicting rain, sea, rocks and sky with a soft and serene feel. The blurred effect suggests the sideways motion of the settling wave meeting the diagonally falling rain, balanced by the horizontal line of the horizon, having an almost hypnotic effect.
Marion Fuchs
Our various works involving rain as a reference, are each attractive for different reasons, all aesthetically interesting, all a reminder of the sight, sound, feel and rejuvenating presence of Rain.
