简介：I'mnotinterestedintherelationshipofcolourorformoranythingelse.I'minterestedonlyinexpressingbasichumanemotionstragedy,ecstasy,doomandsoon...ThepeoplewhoweepbeforemypicturesarehavingthesamereligiousexperienceasIhadwhenIpaintedthem.MarkRothko Inthelate1940sand50s,MarkRothko(1903-70)wasoneoftheleadingAmericanartistswhocreatedwall-scaleabstractpaintingsthatfilledtheviewer'sfieldofvisionandbecameaformofenvironment.Rothkospokeofwantingthespectatortofeelinsidethepictorialspace,envelopedinhiscanvases'luminouscolourandapparitionalsurfaces.TogetherwithpainterssuchasBarnettNewmanandClyffordStill,hewantedtoexpressasenseofthesublime,anideaassociatedwithreligiousawe,vastnessandnaturalmagnificence. FilmedonbothsidesoftheAtlantic,thisdocumentarychroniclingRothko'slifeandchartingthedevelopmentofhisworkfillsthescreenwithhissoftlydefined,rectangularcloudsofcolourstackedsymmetricallyontopofoneanother:avisuallanguageconceivedtoevokeelementalemotionswithmaximumpoignancy.Therearepenetratingcontributionsfromhisdaughter,Kate,andhisson,Christopher,andcommentsfromawiderangeoffriends,artists,arthistorians,collectorsandcurators.ThefocusisonRothko'sdemandsfortheperfectsettingfortheshowingofhiswork,anidealhepursuedthroughouthiscreativelife,typifiedbythestoryofhisiconicSeagrammurals,nineofwhichnowhanginadedicatedroomatLondon'snewly-openedTateModern.Oneofthemuralscommissioners,architectPhilipJohnson,isamongthosewhoexplainwhyRothkorefusedtoallowtheseworkstohangintheirintendedvenue,theexclusiveFourSeasonsrestaurantinNewYork.…