Henry Hudson's 'Shanti' exhibition inspired by T.S. Eliot's 'The Wasteland' and the River Thames
Henry Hudson’s latest solo exhibition meanders down London’s River Thames, tracing the pathways of the artist’s various walks during the lockdowns of recent years. Using photographs and sketches as starting points, Hudson’s newest body of work visualises the city’s iconic buildings as they are reflected on the river’s surface. From the Thames Barrier to Windsor Great Park, Shanti remembers an important time in the city’s history, marking the winding river as a place of sanctuary during difficult times both past and present. The title of Hudson’s exhibition, Shanti, is drawn from the last three words of T.S. Eliot’s The Wasteland: “Shantih Shantih Shantih.” The modernist poem explores life in London’s bustling metropolis during the aftermath of the First World War. Shanti, a Sanskrit word important in the Hindu faith, signifies a state of mental and spiritual inner peace, denoting an ability to keep strong in the face of external discord or stress. On a linguistic level, the artist connects this sense of inner peace to his subject, acknowledging the quiet presence of a pathway that links the river to a peaceful state of mind. Henry Hudson's 'Shanti' is on view from 5 October in Fulham. By appointment only.
Henry Hudson’s latest solo exhibition meanders down London’s River Thames, tracing the pathways of the artist’s various walks during the lockdowns of recent years. Using photographs and sketches as starting points, Hudson’s newest body of work visualises the city’s iconic buildings as they are reflected on the river’s surface. From the Thames Barrier to Windsor Great Park, Shanti remembers an important time in the city’s history, marking the winding river as a place of sanctuary during difficult times both past and present. The title of Hudson’s exhibition, Shanti, is drawn from the last three words of T.S. Eliot’s The Wasteland: “Shantih Shantih Shantih.” The modernist poem explores life in London’s bustling metropolis during the aftermath of the First World War. Shanti, a Sanskrit word important in the Hindu faith, signifies a state of mental and spiritual inner peace, denoting an ability to keep strong in the face of external discord or stress. On a linguistic level, the artist connects this sense of inner peace to his subject, acknowledging the quiet presence of a pathway that links the river to a peaceful state of mind. Henry Hudson's 'Shanti' is on view from 5 October in Fulham. By appointment only.