TRANSITION
Collin
Chillag
Who was he ?
Colin Chillag is an American painter, whose paintings mix hyperrealism with abstraction.(Dea.2015) Highly-detailed areas move into unfinished passages that expose the work’s preliminary studies Chillag constructs these pieces like passing memories, where certain details remain but others fleeting. (Dea.2015)
Chillag has depicted transition by moving from realism to abstraction. ( Fuggetti.2018) He has meticulously used oil on canvas to paint the portrait, giving attention to the most minute details such as the wrinkles. The painting is deliberately left unfinished with pencil sketches and blobs of crusty paint dispersing from the old women's head. This could represent the memories of the old lady vanishing due to Alzheimer's. Perhaps the memories could be positive linking to her expression on her face suggests she is happy . This sparse areas on the painting could also suggest the loss of self caused by the illness.
Chillag has now mixed techniques of drawing details with sketches and doodles. ( Fuggetti.2018) He has finished about one-quarte of the portrait empty. This could suggest the old lady might be in her early stages of Alzheimer's as she might be experiencing memory loss slowly. This could also explain the anxiety displayed on her face. The portrait is also downplayed with doodles with blotches of paint, This could evidence the disorientation of her thoughts which one of the early symptoms of Alzheimer's. (ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE INTERNATIONAL.n.d)
Chillag has used oil on canvas to paint an elderly couple suggested by the ring on the old lady's finger and the old man putting hid hand over her. The painting looks rather complete but if it is observed closely the old lady's clothing and hands are partially painted . This could represent the old lady being diagnosed with Alzheimer's and her memory is gradually passing. The anxious-looking fixes of her husband could suggest his fear of the illness devouring his beloved. The old lady has also placed her hand that is half painted on her husband's hand, this could represent her comforting her husband in spite of the illness catching on her .
References
Alzheimer's disease international.(n.d).Early symptoms.Retrieved from
https://www.alz.co.uk/info/early-symptoms
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Chillag,C.(n.d).(digital image). Retrieved from
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https://www.newamericanpaintings.com/artists/colin-chillag
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Chillag,C. (n.d). (untitled painting smiling old old lady with unfinished hair).
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Retrieved from https://www.yellowtrace.com.au/unfinished-portraits-by-colin-chillag/
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Chillag,C. (n.d).(untitled painting of old anxious lady looking away ). Retrieved
from https://www.lostateminor.com/2011/01/11/collin-chillag/
Dea, K. (2015). Colin Chillag. Retrieved from
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https://www.widewalls.ch/artist/colin-chillag/
Fuggetti,C.(2018). Colin Chillag and his unfinished scenes: when painting represents the
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evolution of life. Between photographic realism and abstraction. Retrieved from
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