Emilio Merlina
Some people want a Porsche, others lust for clothing or a large house, perhaps a trip to Paris. Me? What do I dream of owning? It’s simple, really. A work from the hands and mind of Emilio Merlina. I can spend time thumbing through my giant compedium of Max Ernst work and then mogate over to the book shelves and pick up another book filled with “the Masters” or grab a portfolio of some other artists but my mind returns to images of Merlina’s work. He proves, to me, that simplicity conveys intense detail.
The first image here is titled “Forgive Me”.
Second is a slice of thumbnail from a piece titled “last news”. This image taken from a much larger work (on left) might seem simplistic but look at it long enough and you’ll understand the delicate balance between too much work and just enough — no heavy hand here. As a sometime ceramicist (forgive me Carolyn), my clumsy fingers could never achieve such perfection of form. Perhaps I’m drawn to this work because of where I am right now, what with watching Momma die and all.
I couldn’t close her mouth but her eyes, yes… I did close them. Thank you, Emilio, for this death mask, even though you didn’t intend it to be one (or perhaps you did?)
