Men Only

Hartley, 1971

ALICE NEEL

Men Only

Victoria Miro

After what has happened in Norway it is hard to feel the right to keep on going and to keep writing my blog. Somehow it all feels so shallow, so selfish, but life goes on and one can't let this person stop us from living. I say this person or maybe just use his initials ABB and keep it at that, he said he rather wants to be hated than forgotten. So I try with many others, to forget him. But, not quite yet... while Norway now has turned so beautifully blood into roses, I sit here in London wishing I was there with my fellow Norwegians. I don't think I have never missed Norway as much as right now and I am glad I am going home in a few days.

The photos published of ABB has haunted me these last long days, about how he looks so perfectly composed, so absolutely normal. He does not strike me in any way as the "perfect" criminal, but rather like any guy you could encounter. I think this shatters my thoughts on how you look at evil. Can you really see if someone got less empathy and compassion for his/hers fellow human beings? I am not confident that I can anymore.

ABB's pictures in captivity does not look as flattering, but still does he look like someone who could kill over 80 innocents?

I went to see this Alice Neel exhibit the day before the Twin Attacks, as it has been called. Her male portraits in the "Male Only" exhibit keeps lingering. When I walked through the exhibits I was thinking I could point out what the mens profession was, their personality, maybe imagine their lives... but would I dare to do that today?

Phil Bard, 1957

John Evans, 1968

Alice Neel (1900 - 1984) is one of Americas most well known Portrait painters.
She had strong left-wing beliefs, she painted people she met on the streets to other famous artists, lovers, family, women, children, writers and trade unionists.

Richard Gibbs, 1965

Purvis, 1958

Stephen Herbert, 1977

Richard 1973

Alice Neel struggled with her own losses. Losing one daughter to diphtheria, and later her second daughter was taken to Cuba by her husband. The loss, brought her to a suicide ward at the Philadelphia General hospital. 

When Alice Neel got out of the hospital she stayed with her parents before she moved to New York. She concentrated successfully on her paintings and years later she had two sons Hartley and Richard portrayed here as young men.

Ned McCabe

Ed Ziff, 1963

Let us do like the Norwegians are doing right now, embrace each other, remember and care for each other. Maybe by our LOVE we can make this world a better place. I hope so! ABB is not going to be remembered as an instigator to hate (as was his intention), but one who brought us closer to each other. 

With Love

Kristin