“This evocative, moving piece invites the viewer to lean in, and respond with intimacy to an intimate subject matter. This carefully detailed postcard painting of lost or forgotten moments is a beautiful choice for domestic still life portraiture. Hopton has deftly captured ordinary scenes for the beauty they possess, on their own terms. We lean in for the size of the works but are rewarded again through the subtle inclusion of embossed text, prompted to remember that these domestic spaces are sites of gendered labour. The work contains some interesting tensions: the light and colour captured by Hopton feels nostalgic and timeless, but a dripping tap locates the viewer to a particular moment in time. In a competitive field, Hopton’s work creates a reflective pause through a wise and loving pairing of form, content and the viewer’s own role. Presented alongside its companion piece, ‘The Chair’, the work prompts thoughts of the works’ wider narratives, and makes for a very powerful series. — Emily Sexton