Christ Paintings, Larry Deyab

March 19 - June 1, 2010
Reception and Artist Talk:
April 25, 12:00p.m. to 1:30p.m.
Evening Reception 6:00p.m. to 8:00p.m.

Images in the exhibition

In the last six months of preparation for the exhibition I have spent hours among images of Larry Deyab’s Christ paintings. I could see from the representations that the works were powerful and raw. The formal elements were all there: the compositions are dynamic with an interesting use of positive and negative space. The brush work is impressive and appears deceptively haphazard.  Bold colors are used to heighten the emotional impact. Monochromatic colors, with the faintest hint of the myriad that lay behind, provide contrast within each work. I could see that the paintings had the potential to be mood altering. It wasn’t until I was finally able to unwrap each painting and take in all the works in juxtaposition that I was able to experience their impact.

I frequently have a very physical reaction to art whether good or bad. It is often by this response that I am able to judge the efficacy of works of art. The weight of the Christ paintings is palpable. I experienced a growing tightness in my chest while in the presence of Deyab’s paintings. The expression “It hurts so good,” comes to mind. I found myself needing to take deep breaths, repeatedly. Art is meant to be experienced and it is only by actively looking with our eyes, minds, and emotions fully engaged that we can truly “see.” Deyab’s paintings are distilled down to the very essence of an emotion and therefore very accessible.

The paintings are not conceived nor presented within the traditional narrative sense in which we are accustomed to seeing the Passion of Christ. But rather Deyab has given us close-up snap shots of agony and true suffering. We infer the cross upon Christ’s shoulders in “The Weight,” by his position. We conjure the crowd in “The Mocking of Christ.” And we are left to imagine his tormentors standing over him in “The Flagellation.”  By confronting the viewer with these snap-shots Deyab has framed the Passion in terms of how our brains process and remember trauma. Victims of trauma often experience violent flashbacks and recall events without respect to the order in which they occurred. 

The Christ paintings delve into the very worst of human actions and experiences, yet Deyab allows us to breathe once more with his closing of the series in “Untitled (Christ).” This painting is a leave taking, unblemished and shining in comparison to the bruised and bleeding figure we encountered just a few paintings ago. The rough broken surface of the background is smoothed in comparison to the other works; the brush strokes have lost their frenzied look. One could get lost in the dark depths of the softly painted hair. We are witness to the calm after the storm. We are left with the impression that all the suffering we have borne and will bear is not in vain. We too can emerge on the other side of our own trials and tribulations. We can survive being human.

Alexandra Sherman
Curator, Dadian Gallery

Gallery Hours:
Monday - Friday 10 am to 4:30 pm and by appointment; closed holidays