From the Film Maker

Initially, it was the stillness, solitude and duality of Hammershøi’s piece that drew me in. ‘The Next Room’ portrays a character who must handle the schism between her feelings and the emotional detachment required of her to function in her world. Hammershøi captures this detachment through his monochromatic palette, which creates a cold atmosphere that is enigmatically full of emotion. The position of the figure in the composition triggered a sense of unease in me, as I felt that while audiences could study her freely, she was unaware of being watched.

Carolina Petro

A piece inspired by Vilhelm Hammershøi, 'Interior', 1899
(Painting previously on loan to the Gallery)