Lilith

Comment

Comment by Resident Curator on July 7, 2011 at 2:04pm

Curator’s Comment:

 

Curious title to this tortuous, convulsing character. I assume you’re referencing the Babylonian demonic creature rather than Adam’s first wife?  The figure is nonetheless very skillfully composed, combining what I see as a Hockney-esque construction of multiple frames with more classical modeling.  The contorted face is part human, part animal, in what appears to be a crazed scream, or delirium.  The dreadlocked hair forms a headdress, complete with beads and feathers.  But the individually framed and repeated features are orchestrated in a tightly balanced rather than erratic arrangement. The dark tomes in the chiaroscuro shading are beautifully counterbalanced within the figure, to bring it together as a unified whole.  The pattern/grid in the background may ultimately be superfluous.  It’s not necessary to keep the image cohesive and fused.  But the more empty negative space is desired to realize the exquisite light and shadow.  I do appreciate the figure’s decidedly feminine torso dissolving into the background. For me, it is a visual reminder the creature doesn’t actually exist, but is a composite of human gesture and furor.