Doug Clapp Assignment #1

Doug Clapp Assignment #1

Upon entering Haas Gallery’s most recent exhibition, it is evident that artist Kim Banister has found a technique all her own. Her pieces depicting the human body all have similar attributes and share the same mediums. The bodies that are shown are primarily female and are only sometimes accompanied by a male figure. When traveling clockwise around the room the first two pieces and the last two are the only ones that show both man and woman together. Positioning of the bodies leads the viewer to believe that these two people are engaged in a relationship of some kind, whether it is the intertwining of bodies and limbs in the first set or the physical contact of a man comforting a woman in the second set. In between these sets, are lone female figures, all resembling one another. Though it’s obvious that the same technique of charcoal lines and dripping an unknown liquid medium are used in all of the paintings but there are two distinct styles of this method. I found that her earlier work from the years 2001-2003 used much darker lines and drippings with a small range of colors, usually lighter sand colors, to medium browns and dark black. In the more recent paintings, 2007-2009 the artist has adopted the use of more color as far as drippings go and lighter lines when outlining the bodies. The more recent technique adds depth and additional room for interpretation to the art.

The piece that struck me most was at the far right side of the room and included a male and female body. The male is standing and bent over a woman that is seated with her knees bent and legs crossed. The charcoal outlines of the two bodies vary in darkness and thickness at different places of the body. These outlines are surrounded by a tan fluid paint or dye. The liquid based color was applied more liberally in some areas, causing the charcoal to drip down and color space below. A light red hue of spray paint accents the tan and shades of blue are also included.

The work has clear interaction between the two figures. It seems that the woman is depressed judging by her posture and facial positioning. The man over her could be comforting her in her saddened state based on his hands on her shoulders. Other interpretations are possible such as the male being an overbearing influence on female depression. Whatever the meaning behind the picture, it seems that this work was influenced by a real life emotion or situation experienced by the artist. It is a great depiction of relations with the opposite sex and the feelings that are caused by these relations. Overall, Amy Banister is exceptionally talented in displaying the human body in a way that shows emotions.