Francis Bacon - The South Bank Show (Portrait 1985) dt. UT

"If you watch this Emmy Award-winning profile of Francis Bacon, you'll always remember these 54 minutes. A production of London Weekend Television (now ITV London), The South Bank Show offered documentary portraits of well-known artists and performers from Douglas Adams to Steve Reich to Terry Gilliam to the Pet Shop Boys. Only natural, then, that it would turn its lens toward Bacon in 1985, when his canvasses of human figures, often in triptych, just abstracted enough to cause subconscious trouble, reached a peak on the art market. Roving from gallery to studio to café to bar, the program reveals an artist, one then held, in the words of host Melvyn Bragg, to be "the greatest living painter in the world." (Source: Open Culture)

[@straiph]

I love the way francis is completely pissed at the cafe/restaurant scene

[@glenncambray626]

This is surely one of the most interesting, thoughtfully, put together documentaries ever done on a living artist. It's a kind of a work of art in and of itself, which, for the content, is as it should be. One can return to it time and time again for all kinds of enjoyment.

[@hayleyanna2625]

I completely agree.

[@outtour2525]

I was so lost with myself and after I stumbled across Francis bacons work I found my passion for painting, he is the best painter in my humble opinion.

[@outtour7518]

@Jim Newcombe Francis is the greatest painter to ever paint.

[@outtour7518]

@Jim Newcombe go look at some lovely landscapes then, clear the mind

[@stuartbritton7408]

He's inspiring. Don't know why. It's foolish to judge art objectively and sensibly as if it's an undeniable fact. It's pure individual taste. That's why I love it.

[@reinarforeman6518]

@@outtour7518 calm down

[@outtour7518]

@@reinarforeman6518 nah mate

[@youbuddha1]

He is so honest.

[@j.dietrich]

"I don't feel anything when I do paintings... I've nothing to feel".

[@dimitri5341]

Loved so much at 16:19 when he pulls out the note. Must’ve been really important for him to get that message across.

[@TheDesperado557]

Francis bacon is profoundly introspective. I love hearing him talk. I strive to be the painter that he is one day.

[@straiph]

You reek of desperate

[@tom3167]

@@straiph If you think striving to be like an artist you admire isnt worth it or 'desperate' you should aspire to be a caricaturist at a Disney resort. Youll never make anything credible or with context without addressing the art or practice from the past

[@straiph]

@@tom3167 is it not about time you grew up tom thumb?

[@tom3167]

@@straiph Its ironic you say that mate

[@user-lf5ok5yk5n]

He's so adorable in a way 🥰

[@johnarrigo-nelson9667]

i thought the same thing!

[@kylehudson5344]

Yeah, I felt it when he couldn’t say this profound thing in his studio and was disappointed when he forgot and pulled out a note he’d saved in his jacket.

[@danielnichols5632]

He was a great character, with a great mind. Pity you don't meet many, if any, people like that anymore

[@hayleyanna2625]

This is sublime. Fabulous artist and brilliant documentary.

[@crumplezone1]

A time when TV was provocative, now TV is just decorative

[@sunnyjim1355]

The best interview of a real artist, ever! You don't get more real than this, do you Francis!? 😂 Absolutely priceless.

[@lorrainecouch348]

Yes... it is PRICELESS... but for very different reasons than you may imagine. 😂

[@flaggerify]

Delightfully free of music on the soundtrack.

[@painterly_porcine262]

Melvyn Bragg does a fantastic job always... Practically an institution in his own right.

[@waynedavis7118]

An amazing artist. So dark and haunting. His paintings always make you stare at them

[@ArtNow1]

Watching this documentary I just realized how true to life are Michael Peppiatt’s imitation of Francis friends in “Francis Bacon in your blood” ( Audio book version). One of my favorite books. Hilarious and touching.

[@R_Jackson]

I've seen this profile so many times over the last quarter of a century but I never tire of it. It's so frank and not one question is wasted.

[@Thesaeed23]

So very profound! " They were done by artisans really. They were attempts to escape death as is all Egyptian Art is"! Love Francis Bacon.

[@rosiemackenzie5976]

Francis Bacon a very interesting and complicated personality, I'm try to demystify him, and haven't figured him out yet.

[@carolparker7668]

Thank you for posting this episode of the South Bank, I'd forgot how good it is.

[@ajs41]

I've become slightly obsessed with this particular episode. When I can't think of anything else to watch on KZbin, I almost automatically start watching this, because I like the atmosphere of it, and the calm and soothing voices of Francis Bacon and Melvyn Bragg.

[@lorrainecouch348]

I myself had never heard of him until he popped up on my POOTUBE after investigating the south bank show for some infamous artwork. Sir Frances Bacon? Maybe wrote Shakespeare's work... SURELY NOT??? 🤣 Well... the imagery i was looking for never appeared... and i thought huh! But then i got swept away listening to this fascinating man/artist i never knew existed. What a remarkable fellow.... and so intelligent... chilled... relaxed.... with a wisdom one seldom hears nowadays!!! I have to admit some of his artwork was a tad... not my favourite... but what a wonderful interview... hats off to Melvin!!! 👍

[@amandafrench8047]

Thank you for posting this on KZbin.

[@luc7937]

Love

[@ericpayne2949]

Very good like his honesty and his lust for life down to earth character

[@anodyne57]

"So, what is it then?" "Nothing...It's just nothing."

[@nikosoutsikas9643]

fantastic painter.......

[@alessandro6024]

Grandissimo artista 😎

[@axelaxel7118]

Best artist ever

[@willalwaystelehandler8450]

Incredible incredible incredible Francis talking regarding his work A painting should hold a Presence a impact on the viewer as Francis says As of Francis work 💢

[@GeoffreyBronson]

36:46 I got really tense for a moment I must admit

[@lukeprocopio3584]

Geoffrey Bronson cheeeeeerrrriiooo

[@1Martemil]

Haha same, I straight up thought he was going to leave the interview or something!

It was a gesture to finish the question, instead of talking. Very inteligent.

[@elektrozil9728]

True Modern Art always necessitates the the sound machinery, that competes with the human voice, that is trying to explain where the art came from.

[@Richardbriggsphoto]

Genius

[@Joel-np9vl]

Yes when people don't like the art you do it's not always a bad thing because there maybe something there you see because there is less ugly art I believe there is more room for discovery in that movement in art.

[@notdrivingaminimetro]

Slags off Pollock, slags off Rothko. 😂😂 Hated everyone, what a guy

[@TheNemest]

Burroughs asked Bacon what modern painters he admired. Bacon thought about and said "I can't think of any, all the painters I admire are dead." Ha!

[@GeoffreyBronson]

He didn't kiss arse for the sake of public relations and spoke his mind. Absolute legend.

[@glenncambray626]

He isn't alone in not being astounded by the works of Polyp and Drossko.

[@danielnichols5632]

Pollock is shite

[@pjc1954]

One of the most absorbing films I've ever seen. Is this partly because I like his painting?

[@Jacam781]

Surely yes, but it's also a brilliant piece of television. Can you imagine the time and effort it took to put this 1 hour piece for telly together in 1985???

[@mrminer071166]

The kind of man who looks like he has black lip-stick on, even when he doesn't.

[@andrewmorton3344]

In my imagination... Melvyn Bragg on the telephone: "Hey, Francis I'm coming down for the big documentary; could you tidy the place up a bit"?

[@erik_carter_art]

36:54 Funniest part of the whole documentary. xD

[@Caucasiancookingadventures]

The best music album to listen to while looking at Bacon's art is the downward spiral by Nine Inch Nails.

[@drgang1]

the itw is as fascinating as gis art, cause you wonder each second where it s gonna lead, drink after drink

[@lukeprocopio3584]

38:40 when someone at the bar is clearly embellishing a story. lol this guy would have been a hoot to drink with.

[@silverapples75]

Red in tooth and claw.

[@bwm_72]

Aye

[@flynnjaman]

52:33 I think Cronenberg borrowed these colors for the Videodrome snuff set

[@elcapitan549]

16:20. I'm charmed.

[@iangalbraith1993]

Love how pissed they are - they say often profound things. Utter nonsense too

[@applemask]

Rostrum Camera: Ken Morse

[@anodyne57]

I suppose drinking is like a form of gambling.

[@CuntyMcShitballs100]

He's presenting nothing except what people want to read into it 23:06

[@AlexanderVerney-Elliott-ep7dw]

There is a School of Francis Bacon - Damien Hirst, Ruben Pang, Frank Auerbach, Maggi Hambling, Alexander Verney-Elliott, etc; but not Jenny Saville - who remains at the safe, lazy, easy inane level of illustration (painting-by-numbers).

[@danielnichols5632]

Damien Hurst?! Nah

[@agentike2]

30:00 does art imitate life or does life imitate art.....hmmmmmm......

[@Taofik953]

I bet he was drunk during this whole thing. Wonderful.

[@gloriasangermano3687]

And im glad my life and my world are not his

[@fernandoventura2696]

To look in youtube "filosofía cara caras baratas"...

[@alexpaxton1336]

vimeo.com/140651929 somewhat better quality

[@alexpaxton1336]

the colors are more vibrant!

[@dedskin1]

About as ugly as Civilization that created him . Spoiled is the word, ugly , darkness . Well it is art , but its an ugly one

[@danielnichols5632]

It's great, valesquez and his vulgar religious Painting, turned upside down by Bacon,and rightly so, Catholic Church is personification of horror