MELITE

Comment

Comment by Resident Curator on November 4, 2019 at 11:20am

Curator’s Comments:

Melite came up randomly on the site today, and I was drawn in by its sense of serenity.  The reclining figure appears to be tucked away in a heavy adobe enclosure, but light is evenly cast on her doll-like form.  The curved lines of the structure and platform on which she rests impart an overall softness to the architectural space, and assist in the organic figural abstraction.  I read the swirling lines emanating from the space around her head as evidence of dreaming, which adds to the mystical milieu.  When reminded of your other supernatural portraits on the site, I also appreciate the lower chroma color palette to convey an earthy connection to body and space in this painting. It may have been overshadowed when I admired and commented on Grande Madre a couple of years ago, with its more saturated pink and violet palette and bold patterning.  I’m glad I came back to this work. The title Melite may refer to the ancient city (or the lover of Heracles?)  Either way, it conjures a primal, universal expression of rest within a temple or sacred space.  I see that this piece was posted back in 2015, and I would love to see what else you’re working on now.