Howard Hodgkin is acknowledged as one of the most inventive and original colourists of the twentieth century. His paintings exist at the margin between representation and abstraction, bright mosaics shot through with glimmerings of recognisable form. They are immensely pleasurable and intended to be enjoyed. Impressionistic in style, this documentary presents a vibrant survey of Hodgkin’s work. Talking in interview, the artist reveals the passions and preoccupations that fuel his creativity.
Miriam Makeba
This exclusive profile of singer Miriam Makeba, whose music and story are a powerful and moving testimony to South Africa’s struggle for freedom, was filmed on location in her homeland. Miriam and her band are featured in specially-recorded performances and she talks in interview about her early life in South Africa and the time she spent in exile in America, where she was involved with the civil rights movement. Archive newsreel and feature film footage are vivid reminders of her country’s troubled past.
Paula Rego
The Portuguese painter Paula Rego’s work has been described as dealing with all aspects of the human comedy from a female perspective. She now lives in the UK and spent a year working at the National Gallery in London as their first Associate Artist. This exploration of her inspiration and influences, shot on location in Portugal and England, surveys her art, focusing on the paintings she produced using the National’s collection as a source.