Moved by March.

An experience and a review.

Disclosure: This post was written two years ago but, because of my self-doubt, it was never published. I hope you enjoy learning more about this unique and amazing artist now.

On May 24, 2018 I had the absolute pleasure of experiencing a unique exhibition featuring Lord Charles March in Rome, Italy. Below was how I expressed my encounter of this time. I urge you to look into other opportunities to engage with his works and hope you enjoy my reflection of this time.

Walking into the opening night of Lord March’s retrospective exhibition at the Galleria Del Cembalo in the Palazzo Borghese in Rome, Italy, I knew I was going to be presented with a truly unique experience. I could overhear that there were people from around the world educated and accomplished in the arts and cultural fields. Entering into the opening space you were welcomed with warm, bright colors and the feeling of being in a constant state of motion. Life felt like it was going much faster than it was and I was looking forward to where it was guiding us. The next room we visited showcased artworks from the earlier time in his career which also challenged the viewers sight and, in several instances, completely destroyed our understanding of depth and perception. They were all quite surreal in their meaning and provided a collaged appearance in many. Although his style changed drastically over time, you can tell throughout the exhibition that these questions of time, movement and perception in a surrealist expression have remained core values through his creations. As a viewer, you were consistently being engulfed in landscapes and nature that seem to be fading away and leaving the present moment. It is a truly dreamlike experience.

In relation to the physical spaces itself, visitors are immersed into a perfect contrast of history and contemporary with the 20ft tall ceilings which lead your eye to guided boarders surrounding beautiful, original frescoes that reminded me of my experience when I visited the Sistine Chapel. The comparison seems vast between two distance times, however, they complement one another beautifully. Lord March’s artworks provide an enlightening sense within the space that would have otherwise felt ancestral. This was accomplished in several facets. For example, there were several designated gallery walls perfectly lined and organized of several photographs from his time spent in Scotland. The landscapes continued with the provoking theme of movement. The images were never stopping, never waiting and continuously alluring you with their frozen moments of motion.

While walking the rooms several times, we noticed that there was always something new catching our attention in the artworks. We spent a lot of time focusing on a particular room displaying a “Wow Piece” as I would refer to is as. This photo was a massive depiction of a seascape. Again, the blurred texture was present as if the waves had been paused. However, the movement was exceptionally tranquil. After working on cruise ships for two years, I can tell you that I do not associate the sea with a feeling of being “calm.” Yet, this experience felt serene. I reflected that this could possible have been due to the physical size and the ability to remove any exterior distractions. I was standing close enough that all I could see was the contrast of the blue and the white and the brush of the action. Funny enough to point out a “brushed” effect because it also felt almost as if it was painted. Yes, even being that close and it being a photography. I could nearly feel the sand and the water spraying up as the wind blew. In this moment, I knew that I was experiencing something special.

It came time to introduce ourselves to Lord March and I quickly jumped at the chance to ask him the medium on which his photographs were printed because of the ability to see texture that wasn’t present and experiencing absolutely no negative reflection from the unframed works. Lord March excitedly shared that he prints them himself all in studio. From the small ones to the huge ones enveloping its viewers, they were all created using a massive inkjet printer. The capabilities required to capture moments and transition them to a physical creation are numerous and, from my personal experience of his collection, I believe that he has mastered them all.

From beginning to end, this exhibition was brilliantly curated and showed Lord March’s progression from different stages of his life and from different locations. It also portrayed his continuance with the perspective of time and how it is continuously engaging us whether we realize it or not. His photography is, in fact, “timeless.” This concept is difficult to achieve and Lord March’s artworks will remain while continuously evolving as time, itself, goes on.

To see more about Lord Charles March please visit: http://www.charlesmarch.com/

Images & Artworks explained from Left to Right:

Lord March & Rose // “Shadows” // “Goldilocks”// “Ice House Copse 1, 2 & 3”// “28” // Ceiling of Galleria del Cembalo

Moved by March.

rose@rosegabler.com