Goyo 2015

I can almost smell the oil paint of this intimate portrait by Soey Milk. The young artist has brought to life a figure emerging from a darkened space. See how the red flowers and the figure’s pink lips stand out amidst this moody palette. I can imagine Milk layering thin glazes of pigment, building up the form slowly but surely, and carefully modelling the face with subtle gradations of tone. The painting has a dreamlike quality, enhanced by the contrast between the smooth, porcelain-like skin and the rough, textured background. This contrast reminds me of the symbolist painters of the late 19th century like Odilon Redon, who explored the realm of dreams and the subconscious. Milk is part of a long and vibrant tradition, and this painting has an intensity that stays with you.