“Painting is the silence of thought and the music of sight.” ~ Orhan Pamuk
This is an excerpt that tries to exemplify the theme of “the painting as an entry”. This theme discusses the significance of entering through the back door in a painting and observing details and characters. This is applied to the description of the painting, “The Scream” by Edward Munch
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The background is gloomy, grey colours plastered in the sky. The orange taint leaves a surreal image of blood. Reminds me of death or sadness. As the body purges the red paint or the soul becomes scared after an experience. The bridges are undisturbed but feel narrow. The endless portrayal leaves room for uncertainty. Like my emotions or if tomorrow is assured. The two passer-bys that seem to be walking away gives off rejection or ignorance. It was as if they didn’t want to recognise the terrified expression of the individual. It was as if they reluctantly didn’t conclude the event as urgent. As I stare at this face, which has enough detail to be classified as human, but the curves are uneven, I see shock, fear and despair. The oval mouth doesn’t leave the impression of a person shouting, but rather a person in shock. I do not visualise a scream. I visualise an individual stuck in the phase of shock. With mouth open, but yet no sound is produced. The curve of the body gives off the notion of shiver. This relays the same theme as a shock. The eyeballs seem to desire to extend beyond the body as if it is reaching out to the viewer. I can not tell why the individual is experiencing so much pain, but it shows the human nature. It displays how a bad event begins by changing the state of your body. After the transformation of the body, the mind simultaneously alters the perspective of the world. Now everything or most things will be perceived with tremor even when it should be received with a neutral tone and viewpoint.
©Kihek
Kimberly Ihekwoaba 