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Maggi Hambling's Habit of Subverting Expectations | Brilliant Ideas Ep. 43

Bloomberg Originals

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British artist Maggi Hambling is best known for her intimate portraits, paintings of the sea and controversial public sculptures. For being something of a non-conformist, she refuses to be pigeonholed. After half a century of challenging the art world, Maggi Hambling has a new exhibition at the British Museum. Entitled "Touch," the exhibition features 40 works, many of which have never been seen in public before. Primarily on paper and ranging from early pieces right through to some of her most recent works, the show reveals how drawing is at the heart of her artistic practice.

20 Comments

@minarima 9 years ago (edited)

I met Maggie while working as an art technician in London a couple of years ago. I remember for the two weeks I was hanging her work she would constantly correct me and tell me I was doing it all wrong, or that I was taking too long... I knew I was doing everything right so I just genuinely thought that she didn't like me as a human being.

Then on the final day of the hang she approached me and snuck a £50 in my pocket and said she was really impressed with the work I'd done.

Although I was a little jarred by her at first, I really warmed to her towards the end, and I began to see through the iron lady 'act' that she puts on around people in public (and during the interviews in this video). Don't be fooled, although she comes across as standoffish at first she has a heart of gold!

I was also involved in delivering her work back to her house/studio in south London. She was so nice to us both, and gave us a personal tour of her house, including showing us a copy of the preface to dorian grey signed by Oscar Wilde and given to her by none other than Stephen Fry, which was hung in her kitchen (only Maggie would hang such a thing in her kitchen)

Great artist and lovely human being.

@lisengel2498 8 years ago

I love the qoate “Everything has to be an experiment or it is dead” - lovely video thank you for sharing

@Doppe1ganger 7 years ago (edited)

I expected crap, and i got one of the best artists i've ever seen. I would so love to talk to this beautiful person for an entire day, even if her art were never to be shown, she'd be incredibly interesting. Ofcourse i'm not alone in wanting to talk to her, and the idea of so many people talking to her likely horrifies her and i appreciate that. Still would really want to though

@lisengel2498 9 months ago

Maggi Hambling is a wonderfull artist - she is able to expres the rhytms of aliveness in a very sensitive and strong Way ❤❤❤

@plantsforlife1120 4 years ago

BOMB!!!!!!! OF AN ARTIST!!!!!!!!!!!

@juliearvaniti7336 7 years ago

The portrait of her dad made me cry in 2''

@jamie2990 6 years ago

Fascinating from start to finish. Thank you!

@marytang8888 9 years ago

For once I would like to hear the artist speak instead of listening to comments by other people. Frankly I couldn't care less what THEY think. Thank goodness for the fast forward button.

@devonseamoor 6 years ago

Great work, Maggi Hambling makes me laugh in appreciation. Such freedom of expression. I see in this "iron lady" who knows so well how she wants to arrange her world and thinking for herself, a witch of a kind that loves to throw people off guard in almost a shock-therapeutic manner to put an end to complacency. Especially in Britain, I believe it's just what the doctor orders. After living almost 5 years on that island, I completely understand why it needs its portion of highly eccentric and maverick residents. Not that it helps much, though, hahaha. Most of British population is a hard stoney nut to crack when it's about inner change due to a collective hypnosis, always correcting those who are at risk of waking up in real time.