Letters in Memory of Sultanie 1995

Samia Halaby created this painting, Letters in Memory of Sultanie, with luscious curving gestures, looping and dancing over a shadowy field. Imagine Halaby’s hand moving across the surface, each stroke building upon the last, a conversation between the artist and the canvas, searching and finding. I wonder what Sultanie was like, and what kind of memories Halaby has of them. The dark hues of the background contrast with the brighter, playful lines of red, yellow, and white; like memories flickering through the darkness. Halaby’s handling of the paint is so evocative, you can almost feel the energy of each stroke, each curve a note in a visual symphony. These lines remind me of Cy Twombly's work, but with a deeper emotional resonance. It's like she's channeling all her feelings, and turning them into this beautiful, chaotic harmony.