Memory

Oil paint on canvas, (digital photograph)

Unit 4 Art Making and Exhibiting

Lana Saltalamacchia’s oil painting on canvas Escape explores themes of mental entrapment and isolation through a physical portrayal of what occurs in the mind. The black and white painting depicts a close-up portrait of a femalehuman face and shoulders looking forward, with her eyes and mouth sewn unpleasantly and roughly shut. She uses the inability to open one’s eyes and mouth to symbolise how the mind can prevent one from speaking and livingtheir truth comfortably, as if being trapped in their own body. She delves into how frightening mental entrapment and isolation can be through a more disturbing and eerie interpretation, demonstrating the truly hellish and uncomfortable feeling. The illustration is intended to communicate it’s themes through a physical and visual representation seen on a human face, the place where emotions are most clearly communicated. Her choice to paint the subject in a close-up portrait mirrors the feelings of vulnerability that are explored, especially due to the uncomfortable situation of others being too close where they can see ones flaws. Her decision to not incorporate clotheson the subject enhanced its vulnerability whilst also adding a sense of rawness, expressing deep emotional truth. The spotlight-like background also amplifies this, putting the subject on display whilst being visually and emotionally trapped in her own body. The sinister and unnatural aesthetic of her piece is the most successful aspect, using copious amounts of shadows and highlights within the sewn eyes and mouth to make it appear as realisticas possible. This combined with the smoother yet more roughly painted skin and hair focuses the audience on the sewn focal points that convey the most emotion and meaning.