Dimensions: 72” x 44” each panel
Total: 72” x
Panels: 4
Year: 2018- 2023
Medium: Carbon nanotube, water colour and ink
Description:
This large quadriptych, is based on the story of the friendship of Hylas and Heracles and the disappearance of Hylas during the expedition of the Argonauts.
In the coloured panel, Hylas after leaving his ship on a search for water finds a group of beautiful nymphes bathing in a cool pool full of waterlilies.
They lure him into the water, and ultimately to his death. The central female figure doesn’t take his hand only brushes against his wrist nor even making eye contact with him, pulling him little by little only drawn with his own desire further and further into the water .
He looks back at the viewer suddenly questioning his choice for the first time, but it is already too late. The other two nymphes wait on the rocks seemingly peaceful, but ready to jump in the pool and drown him at any moment.
The inked skulls on the coloured panel represent the blindness of Hylas when the nymphes did nothing to hide their nature, he dames himself.
The surrounding three panels are in black and white and are meant to appear sculptural. Heracles at the immediate right of the coloured panel, wades in the water looking for Hylas but in the wrong direction, his hands lowered in desperation, as a nymph looks on waiting for him to turn and possibly discover her, in the panel at the extreme right.
The left most panel shows a nymphe hiding her amusement from Hylas as she faces away awaiting his fate.
This work took 5 years to complete, in watercolour and ink.