SEXY 2018

Cricorps painted “SEXY” with assertive strokes of acrylic paint. I’m imagining Cricorps in the studio, circling in, then circling out, approaching and abandoning sections of the composition. The woman’s pose—that over-the-shoulder glance—is instantly recognizable, a classic composition. But Cricorps has his own take on the trope. He uses a limited colour palette of peach, green, and black to flatten the space. By outlining the abstracted forms, he renders this painting in a unique style—somewhere between figuration and cartoon. The dark lines of the figure’s undergarments contrast with the light peach tone of her skin. Look at how those shoes mirror the dark outlines of the background, how the angular forms and fractured planes create a sense of unease. Whether it’s intentional or not, a painting like this has relatives. Artists are always in conversation with one another, and by taking note, we can see how different ways of painting can offer different ways of seeing.