Cuddlefish 2018

Soey Milk made this drawing called Cuddlefish with graphite on paper and it shows the most extraordinary, subtle approach to mark making. It’s like she’s coaxing the image into being with the lightest of touches. I love how she builds up the image with delicate lines, almost as if she’s sketching out a thought. The surface of the paper remains visible, giving the drawing a sense of airiness. Look at the way she renders the woman’s clothing with intricate patterns and textures. There is one small area, toward the bottom right, where Milk uses red ink to create a small cluster of shapes, like a visual exclamation point. I’m reminded of Egon Schiele, but with a gentler touch, and maybe a bit of Aubrey Beardsley. I think these sorts of drawings remind us that art is a language and conversation across time, and that there’s no one right way to see or interpret a work of art.