Tschilisole with Flowers 2013

This is "Tschilisole with Flowers" by Manuela Sambo; it's a painting that looks like it came into being layer by layer. You can see the artist shifting and playing between error and intuition. I can just imagine Sambo thinking through the possibilities, working with the tension between the figure, the tattoos, the patterns on the chair, and the flowers. What was she thinking as she painted the pale figure against that deep blue background? The tattoos feel like they could come from any time or place. The paint looks fairly thin on the canvas, maybe because Sambo wanted to build up the image slowly, like a conversation. Those marks on the skin feel like the artist is exploring how the body is a site for stories and symbols. And don’t you think that the way the flowers are painted is like she's thinking about other artists like Frida Kahlo? Painting is like this ongoing conversation between artists across time; we’re all inspiring each other, you know? The ambiguity here allows for so many readings.