Business Lessons From Life | Tirzah Garwood | Beyond Ravilious

Thoughts on connectedness and the latest exhibition at Dulwich Picture Gallery.

Emily Ponsonby’s work ‘Chewing The Cud’ - recently on view at the Herbert Smith Freehills Award at the National Portrait Gallery - was the match, the ignition, the spur, the reminder of the vitality and value of connectedness. This work is both vivacious and wise, rather like Emily herself. It invites us to sit and share our triumphs and tragedies, mundanities and wonderings about what to have for supper and how to rescue the world. And it is was the visual clarification I had been searching for to bring swirling thoughts to a conclusion. Connectedness, eyeball to eyeball interaction, something you can touch with your fingertips, truth and reality and locality that must come back to the fore in business. Simply, the technological developments of today too often dilute the delight of value of meeting the artist we buy from, of hearing the author speak, of seeing the clothes stitched, the kiln door open. The transaction must become an experience once more.

Emily Ponsonby Chewing The Cud, 2024, Beeswax and oil on panel

And so, in the spirit of accountability, I am here to explore and act on this idea by sharing some of my ‘five senses’ thoughts this year in galleries, shops, books and so on. Hopefully some thoughts and prompts for creative entrepreneurs to engage away from the screen, the desk, the To Do List. And, of course, I won’t be able to resist peppering some thoughts on creativity and commerce along the way.

And to start with Dulwich Picture Gallery and Tirzah Garwood.

From the viewpoint of originality, this show scores highly from me. This has been a time of curators presenting women artists often overshadowed by spouses or partners, too often described as the ‘wife of’. This was another opportunity to feel a sense of discovery. Most of the works had never been on display and were held in private collections. Even better. To see all these works gathered together, like jewels discovered in a dusty attic, was really very special. It felt like we were invited to a private moment; not just invited, but welcomed.

Tirzah Garwood Villa At Walton On Naze, 1948 Private Collection

The storytelling was also informative, blessed with clarity, a linear approach and plenty of practical detail about media and geography and the domestic. It was very special to see all the different types of media used - I won’t spoil it for you but the breadth of application is inspiring. Who knew that woodcuts and a dogs fur could be so captivating. It was very special, too, to have the idea of motherhood and creativity discussed in such a practical way by curator James Russell. More than simply charming and whimsical and wonderful, this is a welcome dose of reality that many will identify with. After this masterful introduction, I look forward to seeing something more thematic in the future. I enjoy engaging, remembering and joining the dots that way.

Curation is part ideation, part selection and part presentation. The presentation was simple and easy to navigate. You could grasp the story and the progression with ease. I did wonder if the pink walls were quite the right selection to bring the works to life. And I will always wonder why curators don’t place more works at child height or offer a stool here or there. Particularly when the some of the works were so clearly meant to be enjoyed by a child’s gaze.

The red of the last room was a triumph. A memorable hue that allowed daffodils and tulips and moonlit dragonflies to shine. It was particularly tender to see her final year, final days of painting celebrated as she passed away at the age of just 42. That room will stay with me.

Tirzah Harwood Springtime Of Flight 1950 Private Collection

I think that is is an excellent show and absolutely worth a visit. Watching someone else’s social media coverage is insufficient. Take your colouring pencils and sit and draw before you whizz back to your desk and the To Do List. I can also highly recommend the scrambled eggs in the cafe. More senses delighted.

Tirzah Garwood: Beyond Ravilious, Dulwich Picture Gallery. The show is on until 26 May 2025.

And the inevitable thoughts of lessons for creativity and business. It begs the question, how do we define ourselves professionally ? Are we the son of, the wife of, the ex-excellent company that I used to work for, the ‘other half’ of? How can we introduce ourselves differently? How do we tell our story? Is it like a panicked father-of-the-bride listing achievements in chronological order? Or do we share expertise, a point of view, our reason for creating? How can parents work with, around an alongside their offspring? Is there a medium you have yet to explore? And finally, how do we ensure that we keep discovering, unearthing and questioning? How can we keep fresh perspective on our preoccupations and best sellers?