Valarie Davis The Watchman

Comment

Comment by Resident Curator on July 31, 2020 at 9:47am

Curator’s Comments:

 

The Watchmen was posted several years ago, but it drew my attention today when it came up on the site.  The exuberant linear markings provide all all-over gestural motif, nicely punctuated by orange focal elements. While I can make out abstracted figures within the fabric of the painting, they appear less formed than many of your other figural works.  The face on the bottom right has slightly more contrast and definition- the Watchman?  Our eyes come to rest on him once we appreciate the fluid nature of the composition, and dissolution of other characters into the highly textured, and visceral surface. I’m also drawn to the mixed media piece titled Lady in Blue.  With a considerably lighter color palette, the bodies also seem to float within space, and time. The portraits attempt to push to the forefront of the picture plane, but are overcome by the dominance of the lady in blue.  The piece has a haunting narrative quality, that I liken to old memories that are just beyond the periphery of awareness.