Belkis Ayon
Although Belkis Ayón’s works may seem emotionally restrained—presenting a silent palette of black, white, and gray, with her figures often expressionless and taciturn, imparting an overall air of “calm” or even “solemnity”—her titles frequently allude to betrayal, death, funerals, or unsettling mysteries. This stark tension between serene imagery and ominous titles intensifies the underlying emotional charge, with a powerful impression. She employs symbols and bodily gestures as her visual language, generating a mysterious, reverent atmosphere that perfectly complements her religious and mythological themes.
Technically, her restrained yet richly layered approach to collagraphy—combining various materials—reveals the untapped potential of cardboard printing. I’ve felt her influence in both my choice of materials and the tonal quality of my own compositions; her masterful use of black, white, and gray to delineate space has inspired many of my creative decisions.