La Cage Suppliant les Dieux 2014

Sandra Chevrier made this striking painting by collaging comic book fragments onto the figure of a woman. The creamy flesh tones that are visible feel so tender against the comic book fragments which cover the body like a collage of armored plating. I imagine Chevrier piecing together this figure, almost brick by brick, with these small paper fragments, each a moment of vibrant action. What does it mean to be armored in this way? The comic books become like a second skin, at once a form of protection and a mask that obscures the face. There's a kind of raw vulnerability, a feeling of being exposed and yet fiercely defended. It reminds me of a kaleidoscope of pop-cultural narratives, that shape and define our perceptions, and I see echoes of artists like Wangechi Mutu, who similarly layers collage and paint to explore themes of identity and representation. And yet, in this layering, she finds her own unique vision.