Bored Mermaids 2021

Zoe Hawk painted these acrylic ‘Bored Mermaids’ sometime in the 20th Century. Just imagine the artist, brush in hand, carefully building up the sea with thin washes of muted blues and greens. The mermaid's tails, painted a uniform, almost synthetic yellow, sit heavy on the canvas. I wonder, were they first sketched in charcoal, or did Hawk dive right in with paint? I sympathize, painting figures can feel like walking a tightrope – a single brushstroke can tilt the whole thing. Note the varying expressions of each mermaid: one yawns, another seems lost in thought, one holds a delicate flower as if questioning its worth. It reminds me of Paula Rego's narrative paintings, yet with a contemporary, almost pop art sensibility. Hawk's been looking at a lot of figurative painting for sure, tapping into that age-old conversation between artists. Ultimately, 'Bored Mermaids' leaves me with a sense of quiet introspection, inviting contemplation of what it means to be, well, a mermaid out of water.