Eros 2008

Editor: Carmen Delaco’s “Eros,” an oil painting created in 2008, presents a raw and intimate scene. The vibrant colors and textured brushstrokes give it a visceral feel. What structural elements draw your attention, and how do they contribute to the overall composition? Curator: The first thing that strikes me is the bold contrast between the fleshy pinks and the dark, almost claustrophobic background. Notice how Delaco uses the impasto technique, building up layers of paint, to create a tactile surface. The forms, while abstract, retain a figural presence. Where does the eye naturally travel? Editor: My eye jumps to the central figure—the reddish area and hand draws my focus—but the overall form feels somewhat… fragmented. Curator: Precisely. Delaco destabilizes the conventional representation of the nude. Instead of a smooth, idealized form, we see an almost violently rendered figure. The application of oil paint—consider its viscosity—reflects and perhaps refracts themes of eroticism. It seems more primal and exposed, don't you think? Editor: I do. So, beyond the surface level of representation, is there a commentary on the subject of desire through this fragmentation and almost aggressive use of materials? Curator: Indeed. It challenges the viewer to move past passive observation. Does the choice of a close-up, almost clinical, perspective alter your understanding? Editor: It does. It definitely removes some of the… romanticism often associated with erotic art. Curator: It's this tension between beauty and discomfort that, to me, makes the artwork so compelling. The use of color and texture transforms the depicted subject, making one rethink one's notion of representation. Editor: That's a fascinating point. Thinking about the work as a deconstruction rather than a simple portrayal opens up a completely new understanding. Thank you. Curator: A rewarding experience! I also appreciate that through rigorous formalism we see what at first appeared simply erotic instead invites conversation that can be simultaneously complex and generative.