Medusa II 2012

Carmen Delaco painted "Medusa II" using traditional oil paints and techniques. The artist employs loose brushstrokes, layering delicate pastel hues to create a sense of ethereal fragility. The texture of the paint itself is evident, with visible marks and drips that give the work a raw, unfinished quality. It’s as if the painting is still in the process of becoming, just like the mythological figure it depicts. Delaco’s choice of oil paint, a medium historically associated with high art, and the act of using it so gesturally, carries its own significance. This links the work to histories of portraiture and classical mythology while also pushing against these traditions through its expressive, almost violent application. The visible labor involved in the painting process becomes part of the artwork's meaning, challenging the traditional hierarchy between skill and concept, art and craft.