Reflecting on 2025 and Art
As we step into 2025, I find myself contemplating the idea of the “best” artwork to mark this fresh beginning. With so many possibilities—spanning ancient, modern, and contemporary art—the question is intriguing and personal, and I find the task nearly impossible. Rather than seeking definitive answers, I have chosen a painting (Midday in the Alps, 1891) by Giovanni Segantini - a 19th-century artist celebrated for his evocative depictions of rural life in the Swiss Engadin.
Segantini’s work evokes a profound sense of belonging to our beautiful, fragile Earth, reminding me of the urgent need to nurture and protect it. It aligns with my aspiration to work in ways that resonate with these values. It also serves as a gentle reminder that beauty requires conscious engagement - whether found in our everyday surroundings, new places, or through a deliberate practice of creating or appreciating art. This active pursuit nourishes the soul and in return enriches life in ways that ripple outward.
Art is deeply personal. It resonates differently for each of us. For me, it has often been transformative, a stirrer of emotions, a guide in decision-making, and a source of joy. It can also be intrinsically communal: when shared, a striking piece of art is a catalyst for connection, much like sharing a memorable meal with others.
Art explorations are often—for me at least—intense and physical, sending shivers down my spine. Especially when I remember the human behind every work. And, just the knowledge that we are considering something so essential and so wonderful excites me profoundly. It is this sense of wonder that I hope to share with you during the art tours. Your heartfelt messages affirm that this is the case, making my work all the more meaningful.
Standing before great art is moving and paradoxical. It enriches us immeasurably. Art’s magic lies outside the rational. It addresses the pursuit of beauty and gives meaning to the mundane. It offers solace when times are hard, and helps us process complex emotions.
Philosophers and critics have likened art to religion; it is a source of meaning, an opportunity for reflection, and a route to transcendence. Yet, like anything worthwhile, engaging with art requires commitment. It’s a practice, a journey that unfolds over time.
My mission is to share this transformative power of art with you, fostering connection and enriching lives. All I need from you is to make that commitment to yourself - set aside the time and mark those dates in the diary!
I look forward to welcoming you in 2025. For more information on our 2025 art programme contact me (info@exceptionalart.co.uk).
With warm wishes, Jolanda
Glenn Brown / the Brown Collection / Marylebone, London
A review of the exhibition The Laughing Stock of the Heartless Star
Who would have guessed that less than five minutes from Bond Street lies a hidden gem of a museum? The Brown Collection, dedicated to the work of British artist Glenn Brown, is a serene haven for art enthusiasts. Currently on display is The Laughing Stock of the Heartless Star, an exhibition curated by Brown himself and his husband, Edgar Laguinia. This captivating show presents Brown’s own works alongside pieces spanning centuries of art history, exploring humanity’s search for meaning in a seemingly indifferent universe.
The exhibition exudes a baroque sensibility, evident in the sinuous, hand-drawn lines of Brown’s drawings (Drawing/Painting 35 after De Heer, 2015) and the layered richness of his paintings (Doggerland, 2022–2024). The sculptural centerpiece, Morbid Fancies (2024), crafted from dried oil on marble and housed in the museum’s atmospheric “catacombs” (a vaulted underground gallery), serves as a poignant homage to the late Frank Auerbach, whose thick impasto style greatly influenced Brown’s existential explorations.
This exhibition, housed in a beautifully restored mews in Marylebone, is an absolute must-see.
Frank Auerbach (29 April 1931 - 11 November 2024)
The Legacy of Frank Auerbach: A Life in Paint and Passion
The art world has lost one of its towering figures with the passing of Frank Auerbach, a painter who, for over six decades, charted a path through raw emotion, intense observation, and unflinching dedication to his craft. Auerbach, who passed away yesterday at the age of 93, was among Britain’s most profound and influential artists, forever altering the way we view the human figure and the landscapes around us. His devotion to art was uncompromising, rooted in his daily practice at his Camden studio, where he painted seven days a week, taking only one day off each year.
Auerbach’s distinctive style—characterized by heavy impasto and a palpable physicality to his brushwork—has earned him a place beside his contemporaries and friends, Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud. Although his work is housed in collections around the world, many people are still only beginning to understand his contributions to postwar figurative painting. Read full article here:
