The Woman Carrying Water 2007

Twins Seven Seven made “The Woman Carrying Water” using ink and dye, and you can see the process in the details. I love how he repeats motifs and patterns, like the concentric circles on her face. It feels so alive and in motion. Check out the lower part of the image, and the way he uses small repetitive marks to build up the lizard-like feet of the woman. These marks pull the foreground forward, emphasizing the weight and presence of the figure in the space. The pink line that runs just above this patterned area creates an interesting tension, because it’s the only place where the artist uses a block of flat color. It has the effect of flattening the space. Twins Seven Seven was part of a generation of artists who took inspiration from Yoruba mythology. You could say that his works are like a conversation with someone like Bruce Conner, someone who used surreal and dreamlike imagery to create alternative realities.