Comfort

Comment

Comment by Resident Curator on March 12, 2019 at 10:18am

Curator’s Comments:

To me, Comfort represents the best example of your distillation of form and ethnic patterning.  The painting’s space is quilt like, and while there is technically a horizon line two-thirds of the way down the picture plane, the same green hue pervades the wall and floor coverings.  The result is a flattening of the interior, with emphasis on a narrative motif.  I appreciate the faces left intentionally devoid of individual characteristics.  The family presents as a more universal identity, with attention on their social interactions with food, if not each other. The mother’s decorative headpiece and small child’s hair conjure Afro-centric styles, while the other stripes and dots expand into less distinct designs.  From a purely formal standpoint, the rhythm of circular shapes unifies the piece, tracing shapes such as the plates, table, dots, rug, etc.  The pale blue tint also connects various elements within the room, and maintains active visual movement.  It is a very enjoyable painting. What is left out of the piece is filled in by the viewer.