Artistic Reflection on Peace - HMS Belfast, at Night
Cruising the Thames at Night
When I wander around a city, I seldom think of war or conflict. For this I’m fortunate and not insensitive to the privilege or that I’m unaware of current conflicts. No, it’s just that, in typical everyday life, when you wander around a city, war is far from your mind and so it should be. That is, until you come across certain landmarks, Admiralty, arch and Horse Guards Parade, the Tower of London immediately come to mind. So coming across a warship, just moored on the Thames always grabs my attention.
A Battleship in central London is incongruous until you remember the fact, that I’m able to walk around the city freely and safely is because of ships like HMS Belfast and her current equivalents.
War and Peace
It’s ironic really. People claim that fighting is done to achieve peace but how effective is it really? I agree, fighting is sometimes unavoidable as self-defence, but it’s not what brings about the peace. It’s only when the fighting is “too much” for both sides that people really start talking to each other and finding ways to bring about peace. As long as one side wants to continue, there can be no peace. It’s so obviously wasteful and yet wars persist in ongoing cycles. I could say so much more, I’ll return to the painting.
Colours of Sea and Sky
The picture is half River Thames and half night sky. With a thin, sliver of land and bridge in the middle. A crude interpretation of the boat from which I stood taking the photograph. On a cold December evening, this night, sky looms. Texture and patterns are made by drying inks. I find inks move organically to create glorious sky, and so, I just let them do their own thing.
The water is another matter. Deep, dark, mysterious and magical, teeming with life, the creatures living within it, but also the water itself. Water feels alive most of the time, especially when storms come in. This day was relatively calm. Ripples break up its surface and scatter reflected light, sparkling like fairy lights. but I think you get my point. Seeing something like HMS Belfast is not necessarily about glorifying war but remembering how fragile peace can be, whilst there are warmongers on the Earth. Retired, HMS Belfast has an tranquil elegance and sits quietly in the water, a war veteran enjoying her hard won peace.
Behind her a miniature Tower Bridge glows white in the distance, and the light from City Hall is lost among the illuminations. We may be in darkness, but, at this moment, all is well with the world.
