Proposta para uma Catequese - Parte I Díptico: Morte e Esquartejamento

Adriana Varejão made this diptych using oil on canvas to evoke something of the look of traditional Portuguese tilework. It's wild, right? I mean, look at the way she handles the paint, it's almost as if the paintings are falling apart before our eyes, all broken and distressed. It's really gutsy, and I love how she embraces imperfection. Those little flecks and cracks in the paint give it a real sense of history, like it's been through something, which, let's face it, it probably has, conceptually speaking! And that blue! It’s so cool and crisp, but also kind of unsettling. It reminds me a little of some of Marlene Dumas’ figurative work. Both artists aren’t afraid to tackle tough subjects and push the boundaries of what painting can do. It's not just about pretty pictures, it's about confronting the messy, uncomfortable stuff too, which is what art should be doing.