Homenaje a Diana III 2014

Requena Nozal’s ‘Homenaje a Diana III’ presents us with a stark landscape of a blood-red earth, crowned by a horizon of stark contrasts. Dominating the composition is a dark, almost violent, vertical form reminiscent of a wild animal. The allusion to Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt, immediately conjures images of untamed wilderness and the raw, instinctual energy of both the hunter and the hunted. This central form could easily recall Paleolithic cave paintings of animals. The cave paintings were not mere depictions, they were powerful symbols believed to influence the hunt, bridging the gap between the human and animal realms. Consider how such primal imagery persists in our collective memory, resurfacing even in abstract forms. This painting taps into the subconscious recognition of our deepest drives and fears, where the thrill of the chase and the terror of being pursued intertwine, creating a powerful emotional tension. This is not just a painting but an echo of humanity's ancient relationship with nature and its own inner wilderness.