Svikaskáld – Sítrónur og Náttmyrkur 2019

Owen Gent, of the 20th Century, created this work titled 'Svikaskáld – Sítrónur og Náttmyrkur' with an unknown medium. The dominant sensation is one of serene mystery. The composition is divided horizontally into three distinct registers: a dark sky scattered with stars, a body of water reflecting an ambiguous form, and bridging these elements, a whale floats horizontally, illuminated. The whale, rendered in soft lemon tones, appears weightless against the deep blue and green hues of the night. This juxtaposition creates a dreamlike quality, blurring the boundaries between reality and imagination. Gent employs a limited palette, which reinforces the thematic exploration of duality, contrasting light and dark, surface and depth. Gent's formal choices extend beyond aesthetics. The simplified forms and stark contrast hint at the symbolic depth inherent in the semiotic relationships between the whale, the night, and the water. This elegant reduction of form and color invites reflection on the interplay of the conscious and unconscious, revealing the sublime possibilities of a single image.