It is so interesting how one can be equally intrigued by the painting in which an illusion of voluminous surface was created through the materiality of paint, as much as the painting in which color choices, their relationships, and the dynamics of the brushwork construct the non-tangible ambiance or emotional state of the work. And the new body of work comprising Some Other Sunset, Heidi Hahn's solo debut which is now on view at Fahrenheit Madrid in Spain, is a great example of the latter.
“In these works, the woman becomes a tool of visual seduction, the formal aspect of the paint delaying ownership over the content. Almost just a residue of its true purpose," Hahn stated in the press release for the show which as a whole serves as a homage to women and their inner lives. Such atmosphere is emphasized through careful color choices, in which subdued, melancholy-imbued, Munch-like hues are contrasted or probed by the bright vibrant tones. With the occasional use of delicate patterns applied over stark gestures, there is a notable balance between the vigor and fragility existing in the images. "The flowers are a way to experiment with color," Brooklyn-based artist told Juxtapoz about the use of these floaty floral embellishments. "It also lends a cohesive structure to the painting, pulling disparate parts together. I also like the vulnerability of decoration as it pertains to the feminine. This is a biased view, how do I manage to talk about something powerful with something seemingly so precious. It's also a seduction method. The flowers seduce in an appealing way, so the viewer becomes implicated in the action of the painting, which deep down is a bit sad."
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