The Figure as Communicator
The human figure and face provide a powerful means to communicate emotion, expression, and narrative. It is means for psychological exploration, release, allegory, and social comment. The canon of this century will certainly include fascinating current approaches in figurative art as well as the new realism as it assigns historical importance. Realists should be taking an active part in this discussion in order to define this movement. Artists have a critical role in shaping the way people think about the urgent challenges posed by a cybernetic, pluralistic, environmentally and martially challenged world.
The evocative potential of the figure as communicator will be discussed as exemplified in the work of several artists; we will look at the narrative symbolism of Odd Nerdrum, the emotional rescue studies by Cynthia Sitton, alienation in Julio Reyes’ industrial landscapes, John Brosio’s ironical environmental commentaries, the religious iconography of Rigoberto Gonzalez and Regina Jacobson as well as social commentary by Max Ginsburg.
