Pinturas Negras
“A assimilação de estilos e motivos de artefatos culturais africanos no trabalho de artistas de vanguarda foi um meio de desafiar valores estéticos e hierarquias convencionais ocidentais que refletiam o que esses artistas percebiam como uma sociedade vazia e moribunda. Ao se voltar para estas fontes para revigorar suas próprias visões criativas, o que esses artistas realmente descobriram foram novas formas de ver e fazer arte.” - Wendy Grossman em “Man Ray, Arte Africana e a Lente Modernista”
(Continua abaixo)
black new
“Conundrum” - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 38” x 58” (97 x 147 cm) - Framed 50” x 70” (127 x 178cm) - 2017
http://barbararachko.art/images/Black_Paintings_new/Conundrum.jpg
“Survivors” - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 20” x 26” (51 x 66 cm) - Framed 28.5” x 35” (72 x 89 cm) - 2017
http://barbararachko.art/images/Black_Paintings_new/Survivors.jpg
“Colloquium” - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 58” x 38” (147 x 97 cm) - Framed 70” x 50” (178 x 127 cm) - 2016
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/Colloquium_1.JPG
“A Long Goodbye” - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 26” x 20” (51 x 66 cm) - Framed 35” x 28.5” (89 x 72 cm) - 2016
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/A-Long-Goodbye2.jpg
“White Star” - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 38” x 58” (97 x 147 cm) - Framed 50” x 70” (127 x 178 cm) - 2016
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/White-Star2.JPG
“Palaver” - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 26” x 20” (66 x 51 cm) - Framed 35” x 28 1/2” (89 x 72 cm) - 2016
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/Palaver_2.JPG
“Alone Together” - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 20” x 26” (66 x 51 cm) - Framed 28.5” x 35” (72 x 89 cm) - 2016
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/Alone-Together.jpg
“Charade” - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 38” x 58” (97 x 147 cm) - Framed 50” x 70” (127 x 178 cm) - 2015
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/Charade_1.JPG
“Provocateur” - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 26” x 20” (66 x 51 cm) - Framed 35” x 28 ½” (89 x 72 cm) - 2015
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/Provocateur_1.JPG
Troublemaker - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 20" x 26" (51 x 66 cm) - Framed 28.5" x 35" (72 x 89 cm) - 2015
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/troublemaker_1.jpg
Dichotomy - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 38" x 58" (97 x 147 cm) - Framed 50" x 70" (127 x 178 cm) - 2015
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/Dichotomy_1.JPG
Motley - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 38" x 58" (97 x 147 cm) - Framed 50" x 70" (127 x 178 cm) - 2014
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/motley.jpg
Spectral - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 20" x 26" (51 x 66 cm) - Framed 28.5" x 35" (72 x 89 cm) - 2014
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/spectral.jpg
The Storyteller - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 20" x 26" (51 x 66 cm) - Framed 28.5" x 35" (72 x 89 cm) - 2014
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/thestoryteller1jpg.jpg
Incognito - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 38" x 58" (97 x 147 cm) - Framed 50" x 70" (127 x 178 cm) - 2014
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/incognito72dpi.jpg
Blind Faith - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 38" x 58" (97 x 147 cm) - Framed 50" x 70" (127 x 178 cm) - 2014
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/blindfaith.jpg
Broken - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 38" x 58" (97 x 147 cm) - Framed 50" x 70" (127 x 178 cm) - 2013
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/broken1000px.jpg
The Ancestors - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 58" x 38" (147 x 97 cm) - Framed 70" x 50" (178 x 127 cm) - 2013
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/theancestors1000px.jpg
Judasing - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 58" x 38" (147 x 97 cm) - Framed 70" x 50" (178 x 127 cm) - 2013
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/judasing1000px.jpg
Stalemate - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 38" x 58" (97 x 147cm) - Framed 50" x 70" (127 x 178cm) - 2013
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/stalemate72dpi.jpg
Epiphany - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 38" x 58" (97 x 147 cm) - Framed 50" x 70" (127 x 178 cm) - 2012
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/epiphany1000px.jpg
The Absence - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 26" x 20" (66 x 51 cm) - Framed 35" x 28.5" (89 x 72 cm) - 2012
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/theabsence.jpg
Offering - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 20" x 26" (51 x 66 cm) - Framed 28.5" x 35" (72 x 89 cm) - 2012
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/offering800wide.jpg
Poker Face - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 38" x 58" (97 x 147 cm) - Framed 50" x 70" (127 x 178 cm) - 2012
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/pokerface800wide.jpg
Couple - Image 20" x 26" (51 x 66 cm) - Framed 28.5" x 35" (72 x 89 cm) - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - 2011
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/couple.jpg
Big Wow - Image 38" x 58" (97 x 147 cm) - Framed 50" x 70" (127 x 178 cm) - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - 2011
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/bigwow.jpg
Intruder - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 26" x 20" (51 x 66 cm) - Framed 35" x 28.5" (89 x 72 cm) - 2011
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/intruder.jpg
So What? - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 20" x 26" (51 x 66 cm) - Framed 28.5" x 35" (72 x 89 cm) - 2011
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/sowhat.jpg
False Friends - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 38" x 58" (97 x 147 cm) - Framed 50" x 70" (127 x 178 cm) - 2011
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/falsefriends.jpg
Fallen - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 58" x 38" (147 x 97 cm) - Framed 70" x 50" (178 x 127 cm) - 2011
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/fallen.jpg
Trio - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 20" x 26" (51 x 66 cm) - Framed 28.5" x 35" (72 x 89 cm) - 2010
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/trio.jpg
Quartet - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 58" x 38" (147 x 97 cm) - Framed 70" x 50" (178 x 127 cm) - 2010
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/quartet.jpg
Figment - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 20" x 26" (51 x 66 cm) - Framed 28.5" x 35" (72 x 89 cm) - 2010
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/figment.jpg
Blue MisterioBlue Misterioso - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 58" x 38" (147 x 97 cm) - Framed 70" x 50" (178 x 127 cm) - 2010so - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 58" x 38" - Framed 70" x 50" - 2010
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/bluemisterioso.jpg
Alpha - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 20" x 26" (51 x 66 cm) - Framed 28.5" x 35" (72 x 89 cm) - 2009
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/alpha.jpg
Effigy - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 26" x 20" (51 x 66 cm) - Framed 35" x 28.5" (89 x 72 cm) - 2009
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/effigy.jpg
The Space Between - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 58" x 38" (147 x 97 cm) - Framed 70" x 50" (178 x 127 cm) - 2009
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/thespacebetween.jpg
Paranoia - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 20" x 26" (51 x 66 cm) - Framed 28.5" x 35" (72 x 89 cm) - 2009
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/paranoia.jpg
Stasis - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 26" x 20" (66 x 51 cm) - Framed 35" x 28.5" (89 x 72 cm) - 2009
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/stasis.jpg
Some Things We Regret - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 58" x 38" (147 x 97 cm) - Framed 70" x 50" (178 x 127 cm) - 2009
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/somethingsweregret.jpg
Stigmata - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 28" x 48" (71 x 122 cm) - Framed 40" x 59" (102 x 150 cm) - 2008
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/stigmata.jpg
The Sovereign - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 58" x 38" (147 x 97 cm) - Framed 70" x 50" (127 x 178 cm) - 2008
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/thesovereign.jpg
Who Can be Sure of Anything? - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 38" x 58" (97 x 147 cm) - Framed 50" x 70" (127 x 178 cm) - 2008
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/whocanbesureofanything.jpg
Heightened - Soft Pastel on Sandpaper - Image 20" x 26" (51 x 66 cm) - Framed 28.5" x 35" (72 x 89 cm) - 2007
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/heightened.jpg
Between - Soft pastel on sandpaper - Image 20" x 26" (51 x 66 cm) - Framed 28.5" x 35" (72 x 89 cm) - 2007
http://barbararachko.com/images/Black_Paintings_new/between1392226383.jpg
Sou atraída por objetos culturais do México e Guatemala — máscaras, animais esculpidos em madeira, figuras de papier maché e brinquedos — por razões semelhantes às de Man Ray e dos Modernistas , que, no caso deles, foram atraídos pela arte africana. Em viagens para o sul do México e Guatemala frequento lojas de máscara locais, mercados e bazares, procurando as figuras que mais tarde irão povoar minhas pinturas em pastel e fotografias. Como, porquê, quando e onde esses objetos entram na minha vida é uma parte importante do processo. Pego objetos muito velhos, com um passado único no Mexicano ou Guatemala — a maioria foi usada em festivais religiosos — e lhes dou uma segunda vida, por assim dizer, em Nova York, no presente. Quando volto para casa leio prodigiosamente e descubro o máximo possível sobre eles.
A série Pinturas Negras em pastel-de-lixa brotou diretamente da anterior, Ameaças Domésticas. Ambas as séries usam objetos culturais como substitutos para os seres humanos, atuando em narrativas misteriosas, altamente carregadas. Nas Pinturas Negras as figuras (atores) agora ocupam o centro da cena. Todos os detalhes do pano de fundo, móveis, tapetes, etc, são eliminados e substituídos por pastel preto escuro intenso. Cada pintura leva meses para ser concluída enquanto eu lentamente vou acumulando até 30 camadas de pastel macio.
A idéia das Pinturas Negras começou quando frequentei um curso de história do jazz e aprendi como Miles Davis desenvolveu o cool jazz a partir do bebop. No bebop as notas eram tocadas de forma dura e rápida, enquanto os músicos exibiam seu virtuosismo técnico. O cool jazz era um estilo muito mais descontraído, com poucas notas, ou seja, a música era resumida ao seu essencial. Da mesma forma minha série atual evoluiu de densas e complexas composições visuais para chegar a pinturas que retratam apenas os elementos essenciais — os atores.
Iniciada em 2007, esta série é meu conjunto mais pessoal de trabalhos até o momento. O fundo negro simboliza a morte e o vazio, enquanto os atores emergem de um estado profundamente doloroso. Embora a série Pinturas Negras tenha sido criada a partir de uma profunda dor, cada imagem expressa um irreprimível otimismo.