Created By
Maria Marshall
A4 pen drawing on paper
Curator
Luke Chapman
What's particularly striking is how the artist achieves such expressive power through minimal means. The continuous line technique creates a fluid, almost musical quality to the composition, while the stark contrast between the golden line and dark ground lends the work a dramatic, almost theatrical presence. This interplay between presence and absence, between what is depicted and what is suggested, creates a compelling tension that draws viewers into active participation with the work. The scale of the piece - contained within an A4 format - creates an interesting dialogue between intimacy and monumentality. Despite its modest dimensions, the drawing carries a sculptural weight, with the figure seeming to float in an undefined space that feels both infinite and immediate. This masterful handling of scale and space demonstrates Marshall's ability to create work that feels both perfectly contained and somehow larger than its physical boundaries.
In this intimate work on paper, Marshall demonstrates the power of radical economy in mark-making. Through a single continuous golden line against a void-like black background, the artist captures a figure study that manages to be both deeply sensual and abstractly elegant. The drawing's strength lies in its masterful use of negative space - the black ground becomes an active participant in the composition rather than mere backdrop. The luminous yellow line, reminiscent of neon or electrical current, traces the contours of what appears to be a figure in motion or intimate embrace, though Marshall leaves much to the viewer's imagination through strategic omission.
Created By
Maria Marshall
21 x 30 cm | 8 x 12 in
2024
