LandE scape
CONTEMPORARY ART REVIEW
Melisa King
Lives and works in Istanbul, Turkey
The Sun is God by Melisa King
T he Sun is God”: These precious words belongs to Joseph Mallord William Turner, the painter of light, as his last words in his death bed. These words describes my perception of life in the process of painting. I symbolize the sun as the source of creation and I interpret everything it’ s light touches as divine.
I adore natural forms and feel enthusiastic about transferring them on to a canvas to share and celebrate this beauty with the viewer. I have a passion of painting the sky, landscapes animals, flowers as well as I love to paint human beings as natural forms. In my perception, a human being is as delicate as a flower but most of the time it is harder for us to realize. It is easier to see the majesty of the sky then to see in our own forms.
On the other hand, in this series, I also have paintings of simply single plants. Just again to emphasize that beauty is not always can be found on a large scale, but also in a plant’ s roots as well.
I like to find similarities and connecting natural forms. For example I see a visual and essential connection between the form of a Bird of Paradise flower and the Hornbill bird and I bring those two separate paintings to make a diptych. Or, in my perception there is a connection between a Baobab Flower, Antelope and Zucchini Flower. So that connection I see urges me to show them together as a triptych. These similarities that I see in nature takes me to the conclusion that everything merges into each other. And for me everything that the Sun touches or gives life is fascinating and beautiful.
I often use horizon lines in my paintings not only as a visual aspect but also in a symbolic manner.
Intersection of the land and the sky represents the“ eternity” for me. This matter of eternity, inevitably touches the subject of time. At this point I agree with the idea of Polish- French painter Balthus as defining the art as time suspended. In all of my paintings figures, animals, plants, land and sky all look, grow or move slowly as if time has opened up another dimension and there is no need to rush. In that sense, I believe paintings have the power to make a pause in the time. The timing aspect of my paintings constitutes of long lasting movements, rather than immediate ones because I am more interested in the emotion rather than the action. I am not just seeking to crystallize the time but also to crystallize the emotions. Because paintings are extensive carriers of emotions, they hold it and transfer it to the viewer eternally because they are immortal.
All of the objects in my paintings are willing to make interaction with the viewer. They are open to show themselves up and make a connection with their size or the way they contact. Animals and human beings in my paintings makes direct eye contact with the observer.
In my Sun is God series, there are oil paintings as well as colored pencil, ink, dry pastel, watercolor on paper works. Even though materials may differ I sometimes leave blank spaces on the canvas or paper, untouched parts to signify the“ silence”. So when I characterize the white canvas as silence, I define the painting on it as life or at least my interpretation of life. Persian Poet Hafez describes my interpretation perfectly with these words;
“ Even after all this time the Sun never says to the Earth“ You owe me”. Look what happens with a love like that. It lights up the whole sky.”
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