‘Claude and Paul’ #MuseumsUnlocked

ACNMW has a dedicated and skilled team of Technicians supporting the care and exhibition of ACNMW’s world class art collections. Here one of the team, Paul Emmanuel, reflects on the links between a piece of his own art work and a work by Claude Monet, ‘Rouen Cathedral’. 

Working with the Art collection at the National Museum Cardiff offers incredible privileges, not least is the opportunity of handling works and seeing them close up and out of their frames. This brings new readings to the forms. Techniques and applications appear more visible bringing a visceral quality to the surfaces.  

I’m certain that influences from the collection filter into my own Art practice, directly or subliminally. Pink Backward Painting wasn’t made in response to Rouen Cathedral but my work at ACNMW offered a rare opportunity to compare in detail, the surfaces and forms of each work.  

The comparison of works comes from a particular time in the conservation studio. Having finished Pink Backward Painting at Nantyffin Chapel and unframed Rouen Cathedral at ACNMW, I felt a resonance between the two paintings which still holds strong today.  

You can explore further the work of the Museum’s Art Collections and Paul’s work further online.