The Elephant Enticement 1979

Twins Seven Seven made this painting, The Elephant Enticement, with what looks like gouache or acrylic, and a fine brush to outline all the forms in dark ink, like stained glass. The process is pretty transparent: you can see the hand-drawn lines and layered colours. There's an overall yellow tone but he uses a lot of reddish-brown, especially for the figures. Look at how the figures are patterned with dots of slightly different shades, giving a feeling of texture and depth. It’s these minute details and considered colour choices which make the piece so compelling. I love the oddness of the faces with their almond-shaped eyes. Twins Seven Seven’s flat, graphic style reminds me a bit of Phillip Guston, who also used line in an inventive way, and created a cast of characters which seem to exist in their own world. Ultimately, this is what makes an artwork special; the creation of a unique space of seeing and thinking.