Circe and Her Lovers (Surface and Volume in Nature) c. 1965

Joseph Cornell made "Circe and Her Lovers (Surface and Volume in Nature)" out of paper, board, and wood. I can imagine him carefully selecting each element, each little paper cut-out. I wonder what Cornell was thinking when he placed the figure against the chalkboard with its mathematical formula, or the cone and the cube? It feels like a playful collage, an inquiry into the nature of form, and an attempt to reconcile the sensual with the rational. I mean, why Circe? What's the connection? I guess we're looking into the artist's personal cabinet of wonders... Cornell’s approach is deeply personal, intuitive, and rooted in the process, much like my painting practice! His art embodies ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations, which are the most exciting works for me.