We Miss Social Interaction, We May Love Kathryn Maple's Painting The Common

JAKARTA - Dozens of unknown figures can be seen in a crowded park. They were soaking wet. Their faces were clear. No social distancing. Through this painting entitled The Common, Kathryn Maple describes our longing for social interaction.

Thanks to that sight also Kathryn Maple won the award that is said to be the largest for a painting rich in England. Michelle Williams Gamaker, one of the judges said The Common had attracted her attention since the beginning of the judging.

Michelle Williams is an art activist who gave the John Moores Painting Prize worth £ 25 thousand. According to him, the painting was so actual with the condition of most people today.

"Maybe because the painting depicts things we cannot share at the moment. It resonates with movement and communality and embodies the profound social nature of humans," he said.

A vibrant, large-scale Maple painting based on a park near the artist's house in Lewisham, south London. "I painted it long before the lockdown and the pandemic," said the 31-year-old artist.

"But actually, it's amazing how people with such energy come out into this new world again."

"We've all explored the area and our local parks. There is a balance between humans and plants in it. That's what I thought when I made it, and it feels very 'now.'"

The John Moores Painting Prize is organized biennially by the Liverpool National Museum. Previous big names have won, including David Hockney, Mary Martin, Peter Doig and Rose Wylie.

Sandra Penketh, director of gallery and collection care at Liverpool's National Museum, said the work "holds special pains at this difficult time when the value of our physical and emotional connection with people and places has taken on such deep resonance."

The Common will now join the museum's collection, and will be one of 67 entries on display at the city's Walker Art Gallery, when it can reopen.

"You always hope that one day one of your works can become a national collection, so it's really exciting," said Maple.