Cy Twombly, Bacchus: Tate Modern Retrospective

The Bacchus series were the most recently of the works shown at the Cy Twombly, Tate Modern Retrospective. Made in 2005 they are some of the most vibrant paintings made by Tyombly.

What initially grabs you is the sheer vibrancy of colour. Ther Veridian literally glows, filling the room with a luminous red haze. It is no pun to say you feel drunk from the sheer impact of colour on the retina.

The paintings seem to be about the duel properties of wine. The loops taske us up. The luminous red lifts us. We are pulled to the top of the frame. Then the loops descend, the drips pull us down, the red becomes too much; too intoxicating. We feel nauseuous adn the lightness becomes a cloying heaviness.

The sheer power of colour in Cy Twombly’s, Bacchus paintings is remarkable. The Tate Modern Retrospective is well worth a vist.