Glauce Cerveira

Paintings

Flor da Pele Series

Sensorial surfaces...

In this series of works, I play with pattern and flatness to undermine the illusionistic qualities of form. I want to weave spatial relationships right down to the physical plane of the canvas and turn the portrayal of three dimensionality into a visible device. I want the surface of the canvas to be the first and last thing I see, with the illusion of the subject in between.

In some of these works (Shirt S02 , Shirt S03 , Shirt M04), I aimed to place the printed fabric simultaneously in front and behind the subject. Behind because it remains untouched on the plane of the canvas, in front because perception is manipulated by the falsehoods I put there.

In other works my intention is more direct. I don't want the perceived space to recede beyond the physical plane, I want the "volume" to come forward, into my space, without disturbing the flatness of the existing surface. It is important to me that the canvas is left as a flat object that my mind can touch.

The title "Flor the Pele" (literal translation: "Flower of the Skin") talks about a sensitised surface... it comes from "À Flor da Pele" ("At the flower of the skin"), a Brazilian expression that refers to an uncontrollable susceptibility to emotional or sensorial input.