Close Before Striking VI, 2014

Roberto Fonfria   New & remarkable Artists

Close Before Striking VI, 2014 Image size: 20 in. H x 16 in. W Frame size: 24 in. H x 20 in. W x 1 in. D Collage, watercolor, and graphite Mounted on a white frame.

This artwork is a compelling mixed-media piece featuring four portraits arranged in a grid format on a textured, ochre-colored background. Each face is a striking combination of paint, collage, and marker, presenting a blend of photographic realism and abstract elements. The eyes of each portrait are accentuated with bold, colorful horizontal lines, which draw attention and suggest a deeper narrative. In the top left corner, the portrait is labeled "Martha." The eyes are obscured by a vivid blue line, and the area is accompanied by handwritten text: "She believes her fate is written," suggesting themes of determinism and introspection. To the right is "Pedro, 1955," featuring a weathered face with a yellow line traversing the eyes. The text, "He will never speak to his son," hints at familial estrangement and unresolved tension. The bottom left portrait shows another face with a scarlet red line across the eyes. The inscription reads, "He had a vision where he was floating away to the open sea," evoking a sense of escapism and yearning for freedom. The final portrait, in the bottom right, depicts a face with a black line over the eyes. The accompanying words, "He liked the metallic taste of blood in his mouth," suggest a visceral, perhaps darker aspect of human experience. Overall, this artwork combines visual and textual narrative elements that explore complex themes of fate, estrangement, escapism, and visceral human experience. The use of color and text not only adds depth but also invites viewers to delve into the underlying stories of each character, making the piece both thought-provoking and emotionally resonant.