Audrey Kawaski - Radiant Allure

One of the first things you notice in Audrey Kawasaki's paintings are the eyes of her gorgeous figures. These narrowed yet aloof eyes draw the viewer into the paintings seemingly against their will. Yet they give nothing away, no glimpse of emotion or psychology, just the gentle possibility of desire. For any sort of emotional theme or narrative the viewer must turn to body language of the figure or to the symbolic items, often animals, and often in silhouette, or the setting. Even than the curiosity which those enigmatic eyes have inflamed is only partially satiated.

Another striking feature of Kawasaki's work is the color pallet and texture. Using washes of oils on wood panels she is able to evoke a soft dreamlike tone. The grain of the wood rises gently through the thin paint at times flattening the image and drawing attention to the works superficiality. While in other places the play of wood grain and oil washes create a sense of depth and a complexity of textures.

I had not seen much of Kawasaki's work in person until very recently but personally the more recent pieces have an gained an attention to the use of light that has taken the work to another level. In the recent Jonathan Levine show, Hitorigoto was the first painting hung next to the door. It was the only piece in the show where the source of the soft melancholy glow, so essential to the allure and intrigue of all of the pieces on display, was made visible. What I find most interesting is that this soft light that emanates from below the image frame only touches the skin of the figures, never the setting or other imagery in the paintings.



In the striking Yuuwaku even the hairdressing remains unlit, flat and nearly silhouette while the warm lantern glow shimmers from the cheeks, shoulders and breast of the alluring figure. This contrast sets the figure apart from its surroundings and adds to dreamlike unbalance of the viewing experience. All of these techniques and details combine in the lush figurative painting of Audrey Kawasaki trapping you in that enchanted moment just after twilight when street lamps switch on, or here lanterns and candles are lit and the possibilities of a fresh night are yet to be exhausted.

Time-limited prints of two of Kawasaki's recent paintings go on sale for January 23rd at 3:00 pm PST. Check her shop for details.