James Schlavin: 9-11-13

 
Alia E. El-Bermani, Kitchen Window, Oil on Panel, 48 x 36 inches

1. What is the narrative being presented and is there a particular audience being considered?



The narrative of this piece follows a woman waiting for something. She is dressed nicely, and the house is cleaned, which indicates she is waiting for someone to come home. However there is also a sense of loneliness, and emptiness that overshadows this picture with the muted tones which seems to suggest some sort of sadness behind the story. The audience could be anyone, but it seems to speak particularly to those who have lost someone, or who are missing something in life.

2. Is this narrative engaging or innovative (or told in a new or innovative way)? Do YOU care to invest time in this storyline? What could be done to strengthen this narrative?
I don't find this narrative particularly innovative, but it is very engaging. The precision and clarity enhances the narrative of loss as it makes it painfully clear that something is not quite right, even when everything looks nice on the surface. I do care about the piece, maybe not in empathy, but in curiosity and out of pity for the person. Overall the narrative seems very strong and complete to me. I think that the nature of the narrative lends itself to this serene, yet troubling image that doesn't need strong aspects, but the concerted aspects that it possesses create a beauty and meaning far more expressive.

3. How strong are the formal elements in the composition/ figure? What works/ does not work and WHY? 
I think overall the piece is formally very pleasing. The perspective of the room is very well organized to focus just to the left of the figure (behind her back) and by doing so when the eye is drawn towards the figure it continues to move to the right, forcing the viewer to ask what is happening off the image. The eye is stopped by the wall though, which leads the viewer back into the kitchen allowing the state of the room to be seen which further reinforces the meaning behind the painting.