Mother and Child
Item
-
Title
-
Mother and Child
-
Description
-
Christina Saj's paintings investigate traditional iconic Christian images, while representing them in a modern way. She uses bold shapes and bright colors in her work, as well as many interesting patterns. When I first saw her work, I was captured by the simplistic techniques that she used. The shapes are very plain, yet they accurately depict the images that she is trying to represent. Her painting, “Mother and Child,” shows the Virgin Mary with Baby Jesus. Although this is a very comply seen image, the way that she depicts the scene is so unique. Rachel Nicholls, author of a book called “Walking on Water,” (which contains an analysis of the relationship of Saj’s paintings and the scripture) expresses her views towards her works. Her description is something that I found to be very interesting; simply due to the way she expresses the combination of heritage and themes. She states how Saj’s “style reflects both aspects of her training--a use of abstract form and color which draws on the heritage of early twentieth-century modern art, and the use of some of the forms, conventions and themes in icon painting. This combination is startling... Saj's great achievement is to create a kind of synthesis between these traditions, rather than simply borrow motifs or techniques of each" (Nicholls). I enjoyed reading about this comparison since it opened up my mind to view/understand these abstract paintings in a new light.
-
Creator
-
Christina Saj
-
Format
-
painting
