The Crucifixion 1971

Curator: This ink print, titled "The Crucifixion," was created by Jaki in 1971. It's a powerful image, wouldn't you agree? What are your first thoughts? Editor: Intense. Raw. It reminds me of woodcuts I've seen illustrating medieval nightmares. There’s a frenetic energy to the figures that contrasts starkly with the religious title. It feels…unholy, almost. Curator: I see what you mean. There’s a definite tension. Look at the stylized figures surrounding the central crucified form – they're rendered with a kind of angular, primal energy. Those birds too are not exactly the peaceful doves that you would imagine near Christ on the Cross. There are small images all around, an all-seeing eye down by the corner and what appear to be falling, or emerging forms all over the background. What could they all represent? Editor: Well, the crucifixion itself is rich with pre-Christian symbology. The cross existed as a symbol of suffering and sacrifice way before the gospels. Jaki’s version feels like a primal scream emanating from that history. Those surrounding figures... perhaps embodiments of grief, distorted by pain, or ancient deities bearing witness. Or all three in one! The all-seeing eye could represent both God's judgement but also humanity finally understanding the event of the crucifixion. Curator: Interesting, the layers you're seeing. And the abstraction pulls it away from the specific event and closer to a universal expression of suffering and maybe even resistance. Though a deeply moving artwork, for sure. Editor: Absolutely. I think the lasting impact here, for me, is how Jaki blends established iconography with a visceral, almost violent, personal interpretation. It’s as much a reflection of cultural memory as it is of a uniquely individual pain. Curator: That's beautifully put. Jaki is daring the viewer to step beyond easy answers and into a space of raw emotional engagement, making this “Crucifixion” feel startlingly fresh and relevant even now.