Stance 2016

Soey Milk made "Stance" with graphite on paper. Look at the way she teases out the form of the figure from the ground, using only shades of grey. The dress is made up of all these incredible patterns, and the overall effect is one of light and shadow, almost like a memory being made material. The cool thing about graphite is that it can be layered to create depth, and Milk really exploits this. Check out the folds in the fabric; they seem to pop right off the page. It's so precise, yet there's also a softness, especially in the face. The way she handles the hair, for instance, is amazing—it looks like silk. The whiteness of the paper becomes essential to the overall effect, providing contrast and light. I think of Agnes Martin, who also did a lot of work on paper, because it has that same delicate, almost ethereal quality. It reminds me that art isn’t always about big statements; sometimes, it’s about capturing a quiet moment with simple means.