Renowned British abstract painter Harry MC made a trip to Margate this weekend to attend the opening of Bridget Riley’s highly anticipated exhibition, “Learning to See,” at the Turner Contemporary gallery. The exhibition showcases six decades of Riley’s iconic optical experiments and contrasts her famous bands and curves against the vast light of the North Kent coast.
For Harry, known for his large-scale stripe paintings that explore rhythm, structure, and color, this visit was part of his ongoing project, World of Stripes. The project documents stripe paintings, artists who specialize in painting stripes, and architectural or optical experiences related to linear abstraction.
“Standing in front of Riley’s paintings, one is reminded that perception is a dynamic process,” Harry observed. “Your eyes don’t simply receive the stripes; they negotiate them. The geometry may be fixed, but the sensations and emotions they evoke are constantly shifting.”
Turner Contemporary, named after the renowned artist J.M.W. Turner, is celebrating its connection to British light during the 250th anniversary of Turner’s birth. Outside the gallery, visitors can see Antony Gormley’s cast-iron figure, “Another Time,” partially submerged on Fulsam Rock during low tide – a subtle and otherworldly contrast to Riley’s controlled visual intensity. The nearby studio complex of Tracey Emin adds to the vibrant contemporary art scene in Margate.
Inside the gallery, the exhibition presents Riley’s vertical bands, diagonals, waves, and curves in a carefully curated sequence that encourages visitors to take their time and appreciate the works. Harry captured photos of the galleries for reference, documenting how visitors of all ages physically responded to the rhythms of the paintings – leaning in, stepping back, and tilting their heads to fully experience the compositions.
“For stripe painters like myself, Riley’s legacy goes beyond just optical effects,” Harry remarked. “It’s about discipline. She proves that a strict visual grammar doesn’t limit creativity; it actually opens up endless possibilities. There is infinite variation within limitations.”
As part of his World of Stripes project, Harry has recently traveled to Van Gogh’s reopened hospital rooms in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence and the Estorick Collection in London to study the work of Sean Scully. He uses these journeys as research for his project, exploring how color behaves in different geographies and contexts and translating his travels into structured studio work.
Harry MC’s large-scale stripe paintings have garnered attention from international collectors, thanks to his expanding World of Stripes platform. His studio in Bath, located near the former home of Jane Austen and close to Thomas Gainsborough’s historic studio, continues the city’s long tradition of artists working with British light, now through a contemporary geometric lens.
“Learning to See” will be on display at Turner Contemporary in Margate until May 4th, 2026.
