Trampoline No.2 2020

Zoe Hawk made this painting, Trampoline No.2, probably in the last few years, and I'm struck by the way she balances a tight sense of control with a kind of open-ended searching. There's a story here, but what is it? I love the way the yellow dress seems to float above the greyish-blue trampoline. Up close, you can see how the brushstrokes give the dress form and volume, almost like folded paper. Hawk uses this same, deliberate touch in the trees behind the girl. There are moments where the paint is thinned out, almost transparent, and then other areas where it's built up in layers. Look at the girl's face, and you'll see how much detail is packed into such a small area. The whole piece has a dreamlike quality that reminds me of Balthus, but with its own contemporary feel. It embraces ambiguity, leaving space for the viewer to bring their own experiences and interpretations to the work.