Mew Gallery Presents
The Heart is a Dagger Above All Else
Artwork by J.L. Schnabel
Philadelphia, PA
July 19 - August 29, 2008
Opening Reception 7/26/8 from 5 to 9 PM
Mew Gallery
906 Christian Street
Philadelphia PA 19147
215.625.2424
The Heart is a Dagger Above All Else is a collection of haunting new portraits by J.L. Schnabel. These new works showcase a departure from the artist’s usually bright, candy colored palate to one that is more dark and muted, with the addition of metallic colors such as gold and gunmetal. This new palate highlights the articulated faces of women who appear more three dimensional than in her past work. Also is the introduction of patterned papers and other collage elements, inspired from the Victorian notion of ‘Horror Vacui’ ( a psychological fear of empty space that results in the filling of an entire surface with ornamental patterns and designs), and the surrealist collage work of Max Ernst.
The women in these new portraits reveal the dark side of the feminine heart, they appear on the razor edge of madness, deviant seduction and blood lust. Many of the portraits are of historical women whom society has deemed ‘femmes fatales’; women whose charms lure her lovers into various dangers and certain death. Her ability to seduce and hypnotize her victims is attributed to supernatural powers, which are rooted in mythology, such as vampires, sirens, succubae, witches and other “evil” creatures. They appear in dark room corners, as well is in the radiance of divine light, showing the paradoxical duality of what is considered “good” and what is considered “evil.” By combining the past lives of historical women with fantastical creatures, they appear as contemporary reminders of the close links between the “real” world and the supernatural through the gazes of the feminine heart and its vast capabilities for darkness and mystery.
J.L. Schnabel is a Philadelphia based painter and writer. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from The New School in N.Y.C. Aside from painting and writing, she also assembles jewelry from ‘found’ vintage objects for her Blood Milk line. During opening night, a special series of new jewelry: ‘femmes fatales’ will be available. Some of the pieces directly correspond to the portraits and most of them include ‘wearable weapons’ such as concealed pocket knives. For more, please visit www.bloodmilk.etsy.com.
