Lima 2016

Adam Caldwell made ‘Lima’ in the 20th Century with paint on what looks like canvas or board. The brushwork is all over the place, loose and tight at the same time, like a feeling you can’t quite name. I’m really drawn to the physicality of the paint, especially those drippy lines that obscure and reveal parts of the face. It’s not just a portrait; it's like Caldwell is showing us the process of seeing, or maybe the struggle to understand someone. The texture around the eyes and the mouth is so carefully observed, yet the nose is just a blob of red. It reminds me of Francis Bacon, how he could capture a likeness and completely distort it at the same time. Art’s not about perfection; it’s about the energy and the questions that come up when you’re trying to make sense of the world.