Sophia Heymans: "Everything Dancing" at Shrine Gallery, NYC
Heymans' show "Everything Dancing" transforms the blank walls of Shrine into a lush world dominated by nature. She emphasizes the interconnectedness of humanity and the natural world, and how one does exist without the other.
"Everything Dancing" is arranged so that the viewer is surrounded by the bright greens, yellows and blues of the works in the same way that the human figures in her paintings are embraced by foliage and landscape. There is pure and organic interconnectedness in the way the figures interact with the natural elements around them, like a celebration of living things in all of their forms, human and non-human. In fact, it is only when the viewer stands closer to the painting that the lines of bodies and faces begin to distinguish themselves. According to Shrine, the artist even combines natural elements like moss and seeds into the oil paints she uses to immerse herself further into her work and strengthen the her art's connection to nature.
Commentary on how the modern human attitude toward nature has changed can be derived from Heymans' exhibition, as many pre-modern societies were built upon the worship of natural elements, as can be seen from the Hall of Bulls at Lascaux to ancient Mayan temples. Only in the last few centuries has colonialism and urban expansion begun to control, delineate from and destroy nature because of the idea that we are above it. Through dynamic figures interwoven and swaying among vibrant landscapes, "Everything Dancing" encourages us to remember our roots and celebrate our one-ness with the world around us.
-Emma Szabo
The discussion of the material Heyman's used in her works provided the strongest commentary for me. I didn't even realize Heyman's used natural elements such as seeds in harmony with paint. It would be great if you expanded on her use of material and connected it with the strong texture it creates within the paint, which was the number one thing I noticed throughout her works. The final paragraph is strong and really hones in on the social implications of Heyman's work and why these works provide important commentary for our contemporary society.
ReplyDeleteHeymans’ painting language is powerful in conveying her ideas about the relationship between humans and nature. I interpret the figures not as human beings but as the embodiment of plants "dancing" in a world where human presence is absent. It feels like a gathering at night where nature reveals its true self. But both interpretations lead to the same compelling discussion about nature. Your emphasis on nature as our roots and the detrimental impact of modern society's attempts captures the essence of Heyman’s message. I appreciate you brought up how society destroyed nature which makes the work urgent and relevant.
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