Queen of Spades 2012

Małgorzata Serwatka’s ‘Queen of Spades’ is a richly patterned painting featuring shades of red, grey and purple. I’m wondering what kind of surface Serwatka worked on as she built up this image. It feels almost collaged, like the painting grew organically, accruing different textures and tones over time. I can imagine Serwatka building up the queen's crown, embellishing it with circular motifs, almost like a magical spell or incantation. There’s something almost gothic about the somber tonality of the Queen’s face, and the inclusion of the spades, which are collaged in. And below, the colour palette - maybe a reference to skin tones? This piece puts me in mind of the symbolic and dreamlike works of other artists like Hilma af Klint. With the occult motifs and strong, confident hand, the ‘Queen of Spades’ creates a space of mystery and inquiry, that I find both comforting and deeply inspiring. It reminds us that artists are always in dialogue, each inspiring new ideas and perspectives.