Lost Sea 2015

Sliman Mansour’s painting presents women by the sea rendered in earth tones against a vibrant blue, and makes me wonder about the conversation he might have been having with his materials and subject matter. It's as if the painting came into being through layers, perhaps starting with the cool blues of the sea and sky, then building up the figures with warm yellows and oranges. The paint looks applied in flat, opaque planes, creating a sense of solidity and stillness. I wonder if he thought about the weight of the oranges, like perfect suns, held carefully in the figure’s hands, and then echoed on the other woman’s head, creating balance. I can imagine him stepping back, squinting, adjusting colors until they hum just right. The waves on the sea are stripes—the mark making is so simple, so reduced—I feel like it brings me closer to other painters, who looked, considered, and tried things out for themselves.