A vision of heaven is reflected in Michelle Doll’s exhibit “As Above So Below” at Lyons Wier Gallery. The title of the show, taken from the Christian Lord’s Prayer, “On Earth as it is in heaven” refers to the macrocosm reflecting the microcosm or heaven being reflected in the individual. Doll’s sensitively painted figures are from the perspective of a voyeur from above with the viewer looking directly down onto the scene of the artist's close family and friends. Both lovers and those loved are represented in the images. Several larger than life paintings referred to as "macros" are paired with much smaller "micro" paintings. All the works are of figures embracing in intimate scenes of familial love and nurturing kindness, and reflect a tenderness and hope for a world that at admittedly seems dark and daunting to many of us. The entwined limbs and bodies of families lying together embrace the viewer in quiet stillness. Doll’s images challenge the viewer to confront their own mortality by referring to a biblical verse often used at funerals and memorials and remind us what is truly important in this life. “As Above So Below" is a hopeful and refreshing series focusing on the intimacy of family relationships.
Hi Katie, I love how you capture the feeling of familial intimacy and the intertwined limbs that these paintings embodied. Here are a few suggestions:
ReplyDeleteFirst, I found the following sentence a bit confusing so I added some commas: "Doll’s sensitively rendered figures are from the perspective of a voyeur from above, with the viewer looking directly down onto the scene, both connected and removed from the families and lovers represented in the images." Perhaps you could cut the sentence into two, or add some commas like I did, to make it clear that the viewer is the one who is connected and removed. I added a comma after the word "above" and another one after the word "scene."
I also was a intrigued but not totally understanding the sentence about the macrocosm and the microcosm and the lord's prayer. Is there a way to concisely explain that a little more?
Lastly, I would add a comma and the word "which" after the word "kindness" in the following sentence, like so:
"All the works are of figures embracing in intimate scenes of familial love and nurturing kindness, which reflect a tenderness and hope for a world that at admittedly seems dark and daunting to many of us."
Nice work : )
Hi Katie, I think you have done a really good job on this review! your review is poetic and I love you draw references to something I did not notice during the exhibition, giving more context for me.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Caito, the second sentences needs a little clarification, I can sort of understand what you are trying to say, but the metaphorical way might seems a little confusing.
I am really happy that you mention the size contrast, which clearly has an huge impact when we see the exhibition and change how we feel about the piece. I think maybe you can use some size reference "life-size figure painting" contrast with "Postcard size figure painting"(postcard is not a good reference, but I think you get what I mean).