In Hoc Signo – 14-10-19

Website link: https://corneakkers.com/in-hoc-signo-14-10-19/
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In This Sign You Will Conquer

In hoc signo vinces. A latin phrase stating: “In this sign thou shall conquer”. What does it mean and in which context this phrase makes sense with regard to the drawing. Conquests usually mean the demise of the conquered.

Inconventional Vantage Points

I am always looking for inconventional vantage points as to looking at a model and this position seemed both sensual and integrous as implicitely explicit. Besides that I imagined drawing her in the drawing, a trick that I pulled in an earlier painting ‘Maris (2008)’. The composition is defined in such a way that the viewer will or should know that the artist drawing in the art work sees more that the spectator can see. Perhaps it is that bit of frustration caused by inability to see everyting, that is conducive to the feel of sensuality.

Nudity!

Some part of Dali’s painting ‘The discovery of America by Christopher Columbus’ I used to give my opinion on opinions on nudity. I guess social media filters will soon discover the word ‘nudity’, working efficiently like the sentinels in The Matrix. So I say it once more: “NUDE!”.

America

Columbus thought he found India and called the indigenous people indians for that matter. It is a bit of tongue in cheek that the main figure (my model) is of indian descendance. Therefor the drawing is not just a pastiche of Dali’s painting. Columbus’ enterprise eventually ends in flames and the fire in the back symbolizes the burning Californian hills and the Amazon: markers of white dominance over the New World. So much for conquests!

Graphite pencil drawing (Sakura 0.5 mm, 3B) on Canson Bristol paper (21 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm) - A4 format)
Artist: Corné Akkers