Mark May King

In “20 Hanover Square” Mark King presents a deceptively simple line drawing that exudes both architectural precision and an ephemeral, almost dreamlike quality. The piece balances technical rigidity with a hand-drawn looseness, capturing not just the structure of a Georgian building but also its soul—a snapshot of place and memory that resonates beyond its physicality. This is not merely an illustration of a facade; it is an evocative exploration of urban nostalgia.

The building itself, with its orderly symmetry and rhythmic repetition of windows, speaks to a bygone era of architectural harmony. Each line, though imprecise, is imbued with intention, creating a tension between the rigid elegance of the building’s design and the organic imperfection of the artist’s hand. This tension elevates the piece from mere representation to commentary: it is as if the drawing acknowledges the impossibility of perfection while celebrating its pursuit.

The lack of shading or embellishment creates an austere immediacy, leaving the viewer to fill in the blanks. The artist’s sparing use of detail—a flicker of wrought iron on the balconies, the gentle slope of a dormer window—suggests an intimacy with the subject, as though the building has been observed not just with the eyes but with the heart. It feels lived-in, storied, and quietly dignified.

What makes “20 Hanover Square” truly compelling, however, is its universality. Though tethered to a specific address, it transcends its geographic specificity. It becomes, instead, an archetype of the urban experience—equal parts permanence and transience, history and present, structure and humanity. The drawing invites us to reconsider the spaces we inhabit, not just as physical environments but as vessels for memory, identity, and collective heritage.

Ultimately, this work is a masterful meditation on the poetics of place, executed with a simplicity that belies its profound depth.

Circa Respi