On the brink...

Comment

Comment by Resident Curator on October 19, 2012 at 8:01pm

Curator’s Comment:  

 

I confess to being at a loss to understand the title of this piece, but I do like it for its architectural structure and elevation of the mundane through its attention to detail and sculptural form.  The strong symmetrical equilibrium from the divided structure gives the painting a mood of quiet strength.  The complex ochre glazes and light coming through the openings evoke a sacred space, but this alternately seems to be foiled by the ordinary depiction of a standard, archetypical lantern.  I’m also unclear if the painting is about antiquated or obsolete light- the representation of what looks to be outdated hardware (wire molding) is plain and unassuming, and yet it also moves skyward.  The warm reflected light on the actual objects is local and natural, as the slanted shadows are portrayed as cast from an unseen sun rather than the lantern itself. Ultimately I’m intrigued by the ambiguity of interior and exterior in this work.  The uncertainty and close cropping of the space heightens my sense of place.