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Cy Twombly, Achilles Mourning the Death of Patroclus (Centre Pompidou)
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Aha Moments
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In July we lost one of the great American painters — Cy Twombly, who was 83.
Twombly defied categories. Unlike the abstract painters of the previous generation, like Jackson Pollock and Willem DeKooning, Twombly’s work was playful, and frequently baffled critics. His wild scribbles often resembled naughty, exuberant, childlike paintings. It was also hugely influential for younger artists, among them a singer-songwriter named Tift Merritt.
Merritt was living in Paris, recovering from a strenuous year on tour. She was visiting the Centre Pompidou when she happened upon a giant Twombly canvas, nothing but a knot of red and black lines: “It stopped me dead in my tracks and it made me start to cry and I could not walk away from it.” For Merrit, the work captured everything she was trying to do in lines of song. (Originally aired: October 3, 2008)
Is there a work of art that’s changed the way you see the world? Tell us in a comment below — or by email.
Bonus Track: Tift Merritt’s “Mille Tendresses”
Listen to Merritt's song, inspired by Cy Twombly's work.
Guests:
Tift MerrittProduced by:
Leital Molad
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Comments [6]
Twombly had the same effect on me -- only the jolt happened on the California interstate. A life-changing moment. No kidding. Story: http://www.thelardnerreport.com/scribbles-of-understanding
Beautiful!
i guess this falls under the catogory: u have to be there to "get it".
to me, it looks like something i'd draw for mom to put on the fridge
So happy to catch this! I'm not that familiar with Tift Merritt's music, but I feel a deep kinship with her now, following this interview. I had something of the same reaction to Twombly's work when I first came across it during art school. It had a huge impact on me.
I think Tift must have a rare sensibility and a visual sophistication that non-visual artists often lack. Even in art school, I found few who felt as deeply about his work as I did.
Many, in fact, were outwardly derisive, but no matter.
Loved the story she told about how she ended up in Paris and her time there. Reminded me of my extended time in Switzerland high above Lake Geneva cooking for the Western monks in a Tibetan Buddhist monastery. There are so many wonderful benefits of living in a foreign country. A fertile ground for creativity.
Thank you for a truly wonderful story.
I have stood entranced in front of another Twombly, the installation Fifty Days at Iliam, in the Philadelphia Art Museum. Thank you, Ms. Merritt; your passionate, concise recollection reminds me to visit this again. Thanks, Studio 360, for another great listening experience. And, finally, thank you, Mr. Twombly.
What a lovely piece of radio: Tying a remembered painter to musical expression. Lovely. This is why I listen!
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