Colorfulness through the eyes

My first proposal was to visit more than one opening today, but… At the Galleri Sjöhästen, there where so many impressions and good stories from the artist, so I decided to stay. It’s the first exhibition by Karima Ben Otman in Sweden. My first impression consist of powerful and warm colours with its own expression and an individual style.

I stood between me and one of the colourful artwork. Suddenly, the artist came over. They asked me what I thought about the artworks. My answer was the first impression of colourful art work and a cheerful artist and it became even better. It felt like everyone had an eye on me. Both the artist and all the art works. An eye contact between me and the motifs on the wall through the hall. It’s always nice to engage in discussions about art. It’s rewarding to know more than what you merely see on the walls. I appreciate that.

I started to read the article about the artist and her work, technics and life. So to know more about it, I recommend you to read the article in the newspaper. My focus here, is how about I appreciated the exhibition, the encounter and the works of art.

First I wondered were the inspiration came from? Maybe Picasso, Matisse or the Egyptian art. Through our talk, I perceived her art works as an expression of herself. The art was by the artist and no one else. Every composition express a feeling. There were colourful art works of motifs with one or two eyes. They featured linear contours. Additionally, there were many faces. The collection also included fishes. Some of her paintings became directly my favourites. For example (see photos below).

As usual, I’m searching for movements, lines, depth and symbols in the composition. The 3D perspective is not in the motif. Rather in the materials and technics. Thick layers of material form shadows in the mold and creating the depth in the image. Movements in the pictures are the results of our imagination, the viewer’s. A talk happens between two motives. A shy conversation follows. Both are movements in the eyes and a current feeling, ”42. Be my Friend”. 

I had an interesting discussion with the artist. She is a cheerful artist. I wrote down some notes. I learned that the paint on texture is acryl. The material consists of newspaper and special paper to get the right texture. I can say that there are many good artists and good art. This exhibition will be in my memory for a long time. All the impressions and expressions from her works of art are unforgettable. 

A short note about the symbolic meaning of an eye and the fish. According to the dictionary, the eye represents God’s almighty power. For the second, the right eye of Horus represents the sun. The left eye represents the moon. Horus was the ancient Egyptian national patron. He was usually depicted as a falcon-headed god. Both eyes together in picture, symbolises the Universe. The fish for example, can symbolise Ichthys. 

© Björn Blomqvist 2015-09-19