Hidden amidst the vibrant hues of orange, red, and ochre, a faint image slowly emerges. It takes a patient gaze to discern the youthful visage, but with time, a captivating portrait by abstract expressionist master Frank Bowling slowly reveals itself. This previously unseen artwork, featuring Bowling’s son Richard Sheridan Bowling, better known as dan, is set to make its debut in the Holburne Museum’s “Iconic Portraiture from Francis Bacon to Andy Warhol” exhibition.
Dan’s younger brother, Ben Bowling, initially offered the painting, titled “Dan With Map,” to the exhibition curators. However, they initially struggled to recognize a portrait amidst the abstract layers. Ben recounts, “A lot of people don’t see this ethereal image of my older brother Dan at first. It’s so faint that you can barely see it unless you know it’s there.”
Ben encourages viewers to spend time with the artwork,suggesting,“Our generation complains that people don’t spend long enough in front of artworks. Dan With Map demands that the viewer spends time looking at it and it draws you in. I love the riddlesome-ness of the work.”
Created in 1967, the painting is a testament to Bowling’s innovative techniques. He began with a black and white photograph of a four or five-year-old Dan, transforming it into a silk screen, transferring it onto canvas, and then layering oil paint over portions, creating a captivating interplay between abstraction and representation. Dan’s presence,subtly hinted at through the stripes of his T-shirt,invites viewers to search for his elusive figure.
Ben adds, “He’s got an inquisitive look, he’s very sweet, he’s a very sweet little boy and there he is peeping out from behind these washes of color.” The recurring motif of Dan’s striped shirt appears in several other Bowling works, providing clues to identifying the artist’s sons throughout his diverse body of art.Bowling’s interest with his sons is evident, weaving their presence throughout his artistic explorations.
A Painter’s Love Letter to His Son, Unveiled Decades Later
Deep within the Holburne Museum, a powerful work of art—Dan With Map—has emerged from the shadows, offering a glimpse into the creative heart and familial love of British artist frank Bowling. This enigmatic painting, filled with swirling colors, abstract forms, and hidden details, has captivated art enthusiasts for decades. Now, finally exhibited for the first time, it reveals a poignant tribute to Bowling’s eldest son, a testament to his enduring artistic legacy.
Bowling,who sadly passed away at the young age of 39,was a renowned figure in the art world. His life and work, marked by bold exploration and a deep connection to his Caribbean heritage, continue to inspire generations of artists. Dan With Map, a masterpiece from 1971, reflects this multifaceted genius. It embodies the artist’s signature style—an explosion of vibrant hues and textures—while simultaneously hinting at deeper,more personal meanings.
The painting’s rich history adds another layer of intrigue. Bowling, known for his fascination with maps, incorporated a seemingly cryptic coastline into the work. Ben Bowling, the artist’s son, shares, “It has a map which we haven’t yet identified at the bottom of the work. I thought perhaps it might have been South Africa. It’s got a sort of an engaging coastline but with his work sometimes what looked like coastlines are simply the movement of the paint over the canvas.”
This unresolved mystery invites viewers to engage with the painting on a deeper level.They are challenged to decipher its hidden meanings,to unravel the connections between the abstract forms and the artist’s life. The Holburne Museum,recognizing the painting’s unique allure, plans to engage visitors in this interpretive journey by asking them to share their insights on the unidentified coastline.
Despite his prominence in the UK and US art scenes, Frank Bowling’s work remains relatively unknown in Europe. his first solo exhibition in Paris, scheduled for March, promises to change that. Ben Bowling reflects on his father’s enduring legacy, stating, “In a way I think of him still as an emerging artist. It’s great to see this painting exhibited for the very first time—my father’s loving tribute to his first-born son.”