Painted propellers
encase art in the landscape -
gracing Birkenhead.
A Foreword on the Sculpture's Location, Birkenhead
When the average tourist thinks of Birkenhead, they probably think... ehhh, where or what is a Birkenhead? 😂
This would be fair, as the city of Liverpool has overshadowed Birkenhead in many ways for a long time. With the popularity of the Beatles, even to this day, many visit Liverpool without ever stepping foot over the 'other side of the water' as us Scousers call the Wirral.
But the famous song Ferry Cross the Mersey by Gerry and the Pacemakers, and later covered by the Beatles, was singing of just such a journey to Birkenhead.
The Wirral peninsular has much to offer in the way of history, countryside walks and industry, as I've explored in many other posts, most recently describing the low tide crossing of the river Dee with my girlfriend to visit the Bird sanctuary and seal-spotting Hilbre island in A Valentine's Day Walk ❤️.
At least half of the active docks in Merseyside are located in 'The Great Float', which is a dock that runs approximately 2 miles inland from the River Mersey on the Wirral side of the river, dividing the areas of Birkenhead and Wallasey.
The dominance of the dockland industrial environment of Birkenhead undoubtedly attracted Harry Hoodless as a painter, as he was also a draftsman, which can be seen in his careful depictions of the lines, forms and perspective of the factories in the background, and in the Propellers themselves.
A History of Harry Hoodless, his Influences and Artistic Endeavours
Harry Hoodless studied at the Royal College of Art in London, where he was influenced by Edward Bawden and Eric Ravilious who both painted similar modernist-style paintings, focusing on detail in the depiction of subject and landscape.
After becoming principal of the Laird School of Art Harry became a respected art teacher but continued producing paintings of marine and dockyard scenes.
The Laird School of Art opened in September 1871 and was sadly closed in 1980 when it merged with the Birkenhead College of Technology. The Laird School of Art was famously the first high-class academy of arts outside London, funded by the shipping magnate John Laird.
Although the propellers you see in Harry's painting have disappeared, perhaps sold for scrap, moved, or maybe sold as decoration pieces... they live on in his painting as a tribute to the now waning dockland industry of Birkenhead and Merseyside in general.
A glimpse back into a past that will never return. This type of painting engenders deep feelings of nostalgia and romanticism for what was probably a very gritty life in the industrial age.
With the increasing onset of automation within all industries, I think that these types of paintings that either reflect upon the industrial revolution, or the age that followed, will become all the more important as records. With time that nostalgia will grow, and the effect that this piece of art will only grow with it.
Harry Hoodless sadly died in 1997 so I can't display any of his other works in this blog as they're not CC licence or in the public domain.
But if you want to check out other wonderful dockland scenes painted by this artist you can find images displayed under this Google Image search.
The Walker Art Gallery
I recently visited the Walker Art Gallery with my girlfriend. During the three hours we spent there I took many pictures and wrote Haiku poems inspired by the art that had grabbed my attention.
Art galleries have a strange effect on me. I always find myself drawn into a meditative place by the gallery's quiet and the art's impact.
I am always this way in any gallery... names don't impress me. I could walk past a Picasso (although I do like Picasso) to sit and write in response to an unknown artist's work if it caught my eye and senses. I find it hard to explain, but it is like a force that draws me to certain paintings.
Although I was drawn to some of the world-famous works that the gallery holds, such as the Pre Raphelite, 'Echo and Narcissus' by John William Waterhouse, my eye was also drawn to the painting 'The Propellers, Birkenhead' (by Harry Hoodless) pictured above.
If you are visiting Liverpool I fully recommend you visit the Walker Art Gallery (the link takes you to a Google Maps location of the gallery).
Whether you're looking for world-famous artists' original oil on canvas paintings - or fancy checking out some more modern art (as they host the Liverpool John Moores Art Prize Collection) - there is something for every art lover.
Thanks for reading 🙂🌿
To read more about the aesthetics of true haiku, and the difference between haiku and senryu, please check out my post: Haiku Vs Senryu - The Aesthetics of Form
All images in this post are my own property, taken at The Walker Art Gallery.
Camera used - Samsung S7 Smartphone
If you have enjoyed this Haiku, please check out my homepage @raj808 for similar content.
