The National Gallery: The stories we don’t tell
Siris Hill and Maryanne Saunders
To mark Rembrandt’s 420th birthday, the National Gallery invited Siris Hill to share how the Dutch painter had influenced his practice. Hill reflected on his journey as an artist through discovering Rembrandt’s portraiture. That relationship began with a chance encounter with the painter’s work at a formative moment in Hill’s life, whilst homeless. The talk underpinned the direct, humane portraiture of Hill’s series Ordinary. The evening had two parts: a conversation in the Rembrandt Room, followed by a presentation of works from Ordinary in the Welcome Space at the Roden Centre for Creative Learning, alongside tactile samples of Hill’s 3D printed paintings. Visitors could encounter the paintings’ sculpted surfaces through touch as well as sight.
A moment from the evening
A one-minute highlight of the event, with a passage from Hill’s talk and visitors spending time with the works.
Film by Oliver Gonzalez
“I thought rather than focusing on Rembrandt’s legacy as a wider cultural impact, what better way to celebrate his birthday than to tell a story of how, 400 years later, Rembrandt’s work is still inspiring people in the most unlikely ways. I am an artist because of Rembrandt. A testament to his legacy.”