Caragh Thuring describes painting as both folly and rebellion in a time of hellish destruction. In her east London studio, surrounded by paintings and cryptic notes, she creates works that blend medieval imagery with martial technology, submarines with volcanoes, and mundane office spaces with cosmic events.
Chaos as method
Thuring moves fluidly between styles, returning to motifs like submarines, volcanoes, and tartans. She avoids preparatory drawings, letting the painting process document her imagination. Her work is layered and miscellaneous, inviting viewers to find their own connections.
The Annunciation reimagined
In The Annunciation, Thuring breaks tradition with a hot pink mess: two Marys, one kneeling close to the angel's lilies, phallic cacti, and falling leaves. It is irreverent, witty, and subversive.
From Holy Loch to London
Born in Brussels to Scottish, Dutch, and French parents, Thuring grew up in west Scotland, watching nuclear submarines and oil rigs. She visited volcanoes like Thrihnukagigur and Vesuvius, but London, with its chaos and ability to reconstruct itself, feels like home.
Starlink and cosmic connections
In Starlink, a sci-fi painting, Elon Musk's satellites form a constellation around Earth. The rocket resembles a spermatozoon, echoing themes of transcendent intervention: a submarine surfacing, a god in a bedroom, a volcano erupting.
Poetry over prose
Thuring's paintings create spaces where images meet, requiring viewers to use their imagination. She rejects clear explanations, accepting the risk of misunderstanding. 'That's not my problem,' she says.
World Trade and the mundane
World Trade is based on a photo of a nondescript office with a check carpet and electric cables. The title reminds us that the twin towers were ordinary workplaces before becoming symbols of conflict. The painting avoids sensationalism, delivering a sharp, tender shock.
Seeing the whole planet in a centimetre
Thuring aims to be curious, like a child poking in dirt. Her work links shabby offices to wars, crusades, colonisation, nuclear threats, and nature's power. She rebels against the hubris of a single perspective, offering sparks that ignite thought.
Caragh Thuring's exhibition is at Thomas Dane Gallery, London, until 19 September.
