After a whirlwind visit to the Hurvin Anderson exhibition before co-hosting the Tate Late painting workshop inspired by his work, the 2Bornot2bcollective* crew reunited to experience the exhibition together. As usual, I arrived early, I’ve never been one for cutting it fine, so I inevitably find myself with time to spare. This time, I used that opportunity to wander through the exhibition alone, keeping my phone firmly in my pocket. When was the last time you truly gave yourself over to an exhibition? To an artist’s work? To really look, absorb, and sit with the power, dedication, and years of practice that artists pour into their craft? Without the distraction of documenting every moment, I found myself noticing things I might otherwise have missed: the confidence of the brushstrokes, the richness of the colour palette, the careful balance of composition. Even before engaging with the deeper narratives, the paintings demanded attention through their sheer presence. Anderson’s work, however, invites far more than visual appreciation. The faceless figures, the echoes of memory, history and place, carry a quiet but profound emotional weight. They leave the viewer wondering: Who is this person? What is their story? What has been left unsaid? For those familiar with Anderson’s practice, these questions sit at the heart of his work. His paintings explore themes of belonging, identity and memory, questions that resonate deeply with many of us who navigate multiple cultural realities at once. The feeling of being both here and there, connected and disconnected, seen yet searching for where we truly fit. It was a moving and thought-provoking experience, made even more special by sharing it with the 2B crew. A reminder that art is not simply something we look at; it is something we feel, question, and carry with us long after we leave the gallery.
