Artists "Review" Artists: Matt Hollis on Mel Prest

The Artists "Review" Artists Project was launched on June 30, 2008.  Below is a "review" of Mel Prest's work, Chiyoda Line, written by Matt Hollis.  Mel also provided a second image, Shin-Renom, as well as a brief response to Matt's "review."

Mel currently resides in San Francisco, CA, and Matt lives in Washington, D.C.

If you would like to participate in this project, please email me at jtkirkland [at] gmail [dot] com.

                           
Chiyoda Line
gouache and pencil on Fabriano
23" x 31"
2008

The "Review"

My first thought about this piece was of the route maps that show all the cities and flights that a particular airline provides.  Researching the title only furthered this transportation feeling in that the Chiyoda Line is a one of the sections of the Tokyo subway system. Such a sense of movement dominates the work, but movement with a plan or perhaps based on some sort of unseen grid system.

In the end, the process that created it overshadows the finished work.  The frenzied amassing of lines speaks of the hand that drew them and whatever compulsion drove them to make this, perhaps calming them down from a wild state. All of these crisscrossing lines fall upon this vast purple void that almost threatens to swallow them into oblivion. Is the artist resisting this void, frantically trying to fill it? My eye wants to see past the hectic stress of colored lines and find comfort in that soft purple distance.

By Matt Hollis

              
Shin-Remon
oil on panel
24" x 24" x 2"
2008

The Response

The work is based on a grid system, charting the hiragana characters to spell out the different stations on this train line. I agree that the process dominates the final image. The un-coerced color relationships, the vibrating lines and awkward space are more in line with the intention—sort of a post-aesthetic drawing. I am glad that the emotional contrast between the line and the space are apparent. It’s also a contrast to my other painting, which is more controlled. Thanks for your thoughtful review.

By Mel Prest

Previous "Reviews":
Pam Farrell on Ken Weathersby
Paula McCullough on Aric Calfee
Lee Gainer on Leigh Waldron-Taylor
Aric Calfee on Paula McCullough
Matthew Ballou on Heather Levy
Giovanni Garcia-Fenech on TJ Norris
TJ Norris on Giovanni Garcia-Fenech
Susan Tolbert on Mary Klein
Heather Levy on Gail Vollrath
Sharon Butler on Matthew Ballou
Mark L. Power on Steven Alexander
Steven Alexander on Mark L. Power
Molly Norris on M. Trigos
Ken Weathersby on Joseph Barbaccia
Sondra Arkin on Susan Tolbert
John M. Adams on Sharon Butler
Michael Paul Oman-Reagan on Brent Hallard
Daniel Mafe on Pam Farrell
Joanna Knox on John M. Adams
John Lucien Grillo on Joanna Knox
Brent Hallard on Lisa Klow
Joseph Barbaccia on John Lucien Grillo
M. Trigos on Michael Paul Oman-Reagan
Mary Klein on Imants Ozers
Richard Schemmerer on Michael Konrad
Michael Konrad on Richard Schemmerer
Jennifer Mawby on Lee Gainer
Lisa Klow on Molly Norris
Bob Barbera on Jenn Figg
Tom Wagner on Kimberley L. Lindsley
Michelle Hunter on Aaron McMasters
Gail Vollrath on Daniel Mafe
Aaron McMasters on Michelle Hunter
Demetrius Romanos on Chris Rywalt
Chris Rywalt on Demetrius Romanos
Imants Ozers on Sondra Arkin
Timothy Buckwalter on Rob Hitzig
Rob Hitzig on Susan Constanse
Carolina Mayorga on Timothy Buckwalter
Leila Holtsman on Carolina Mayorga
Grant Dale on Matt Hollis

Comments

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