Les filles de Enlil 2015

Carlos Sablòn made this fantastical painting, "Les filles de Enlil," with oils, and it’s like stepping into a dream. The way he builds up the colors, layer by layer, it's clear that Sablòn is interested in the process of painting itself. Look at the woman’s head. It's not just hair, it's a whole galaxy swirling above her! It's such a juxtaposition, the smooth skin against this cosmic explosion, and it really grabs you. The red tendrils are so delicate, like they might snap if you touched them. Then there are the plants, so sharply defined, and the soft undulation of the hills in the distance; all these elements create a very surreal, tactile experience. It puts me in mind of Dorothea Tanning’s dreamlike landscapes; this image has that same otherworldly feel. What I like most is the way Sablòn leaves space for mystery, inviting us to ponder what it all means, if anything at all.