Progress

Comment

Comment by Resident Curator on May 2, 2012 at 12:37pm

Curator’s Comment:

 

Progress is one of those little jewels that is able to transform and present apparent ugliness as natural beauty.  Stylistically, there is lucid romanticism to the sheer cascade of rosy smoke, and chiaroscuro shadows in the central figure’s hat and coat.  The luminosity reflected in the industrial complex also gives off a bright and cheerful sanguinity of hue; smokestacks have never looked so right.  But on closer inspection the viewer notices the cloud-makers are most likely adulterated, seeming to rise from an appealingly and questionably picturesque village rather than a sprawling factory or plant.  I can’t see evidence of this larger theme in your body of work presented on the site, although several others lean towards illustrative narration.  All of these pieces very skillfully mimic reflections of light, especially in the wet night scenes.  Taxicab Confession is the only other piece that makes me take pause at the conceptual intent- making me question if in fact I’m a witness to something other than the radiant light of progress and achievement.

Comment by Jinsu Du on February 26, 2011 at 1:02pm

Strong!!!