Love Will Linger Like Poison in the Veins 2016

Soey Milk created this painting, "Love Will Linger Like Poison in the Veins," using traditional oil paints, a medium favored for its smooth texture and blendability. Notice how Milk uses these qualities to create a dreamlike, almost surreal atmosphere. The rich colors and soft gradations of tone give the figure a palpable sense of presence, while also emphasizing the stark contrast between the living and the lifeless. The artist's technique invites you to consider the material itself, and the way oil paint can be manipulated to convey both beauty and decay. By embedding symbols of mortality within a sensuous composition, Milk challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft. This work speaks to the way materials and making can be used to explore complex emotions, making the themes of the artwork feel especially resonant.