"The City" 2

Comment

Comment by Resident Curator on November 22, 2014 at 8:48am

Curator’s Comments:

 

The City (2) tenders the right balance of gestural figuration and abstracted color - for me reminiscent of Nathan Olivera’s work. While the figures appear as semi-transparent ghosts somewhat unaware of each other within the composition, the grouping offers an energetic allocation of space within the figure-ground relationship.  The abstracted figure on the far left appears to split down the center; the cleaved form could represent another entity emerging, or be part of a contrasting textile/garment.  I like that the figures appear to be perched on pointed feet and legs.  It adds a sinuous quality to their contour, and suspends weight and visual movement in the piece. The tilted diagonal horizon line pushes slightly forward in the shallow space, again providing some ambiguity of pictorial depth.  The City (3) is obviously related by formal decision making, but takes on a very different psychological mood.  In this painting the central figure in blue seems to cower around larger figures that are more aggressively rendered. The charged background space seems to echo the starling grimacing mask of the tall figure on the far right side.  Just as a city can be menacing and indifferent, these figures create a theatrical psychological landscape through simple gestures.