Immersing Audiences in Hyperrealistic Water Worlds: An Artist's Phenomenal Paintings
Artist Calida Rawles immerses spectators in mesmerizing hyperrealistic water worlds with her exhibition A Certain Oblivion Through 10 captivating large-scale paintings, Rawles skillfully captures the graceful movement of young women and girls suspended in water, inviting viewers to explore uncharted emotional depths
Calida Rawles, a painter based in Los Angeles, has been deeply contemplating the concepts of light and darkness in both her artwork and daily life. In an interview with CNN, she shared her perspective on the current state of affairs, describing it as a dark period in history that can be overwhelming and anxiety-inducing. Rawles specifically pointed out her reaction to the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022, the climate crisis, and the global impact of Covid-19 as contributing factors to this perception. Despite these challenges, she emphasized her willingness to see this as an opportunity for reflection and a new beginning, noting that darkness often precedes the emergence of light.
Rawles' latest body of work, "A Certain Oblivion," draws inspiration from a profound exploration of darkness. Through a captivating series of 10 expansive paintings, Rawles skillfully portrays the graceful motion of young women and girls suspended in water, their bodies delicately hovering just beneath the surface. The swirling pools of impenetrable darkness imbue the images with an air of uncertainty, juxtaposed against the subjects' faces and bodies directed towards the light. Their celestial presence amidst the weightiness conveys a profound sense of hope.
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The Lehmann Maupin gallery in New York is currently showcasing the latest artworks by Rawles, who is presenting her first major solo exhibition on the East Coast. Over the course of several months, she diligently worked on this series, and even up until the moment the truck arrived, Rawles was immersed in painting, making last-minute preparations and edits for the installation of the show.
"When I'm feeling upset, being by the ocean helps me to sit back and experience a greater sense of connection," shared artist Calida Rawles with CNN. "In those moments, I truly feel like a part of something much bigger than myself." (Photo credit: Marten Elder/Courtesy of the artist and Lehmann Maupin)
In several aspects, the representation of water and its significance, as well as the legacies and memories it embodies, are explored in "A Certain Oblivion" by Rawles. The previous artworks by Rawles showcased during the Berlin Biennale last year featured Black individuals adorned in white attire, immersed in vivid shades of blue.
Calida Rawles' cover artwork for "The Water Dancer."
Pengiun Random House
According to Françoise Vergès, an activist and political theorist who curated a performance at the Biennale, Rawles presents the idea that "water is memory" while seamlessly juxtaposing Black joy and pain.
Rawles elaborated on her affinity for water, stating, "I am fascinated by the way water interacts with the body and transforms its shape. My intention is to make my artwork appear dynamic and in constant motion. These figures are not meant to be still or posed portraits." Rawles, known for her exhibitions in the United States and abroad, also contributed the cover art for Ta-Nehisi Coates's debut novel in 2019, "The Water Dancer." She emphasized the importance of capturing movement and growth to portray the ever-changing nature of humanity.
The scale of Rawles' work plays a crucial role in creating a dynamic atmosphere. In her piece "A Certain Oblivion," she skillfully alters the proportions and relationship between the subject and the water, resulting in an abstract and deconstructed depiction. When viewed from different angles, the figures' bodies appear different, mirroring the ethereal nature of water. Rawles explains, "I believe the figures are slightly smaller, but the water is so immense that when you stand in front of it, you feel as if you are immersed in the water itself, and that has a profound impact."
The water transforms into a surreal and otherworldly space. There is a lack of context, and certain parts do not even resemble water. This intriguing aspect invites the mind to ponder its whereabouts in the context of this specific oblivion.
Calida Rawles collaborated with her daughters to produce the reference photographs that served as the basis for her paintings. Skye, her eldest daughter, assisted in capturing images of her younger siblings, Sage and Sienna, while they were in a swimming pool, using both 35mm film and a digital camera. Rawles described the process as a collective effort emphasizing the power of female collaboration. She also expressed her belief in empowering her daughters as individuals with their own voices.
"I dedicate extensive hours to my painting, thus transforming it into our very own exhibition," she remarked. "It becomes a cherished occasion for the entire family, alleviating some of my motherly guilt."
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Creating reference images was a crucial step for Rawles to produce her paintings, which were not intended to be accurate portraits of her daughters, but rather portrayals of young women and girls resembling them. Among the 10 final paintings, seven were based on photographs taken of her daughters during nighttime. Rawles faced the challenge of achieving the desired dark hues for these images by quickly and experimentally blending her palette, often finding it challenging to distinguish between the deep blues, greens, and blacks of the fast-drying acrylic paint.
To eliminate the reflection of light on the dark paint of her canvas, she often painted in her studio with the lights off or kept her curtains closed. "It was like painting in a shadow, a practice that brought me joy. I have probably had some impact on my eyesight, everything looks a bit blurry now," Rawles chuckled. "But it's all part of the artistic journey!"
However, while water remains a central theme in Rawles' work, "A Certain Oblivion" explores various other elements in terms of form, process, and subject matter. "Whenever I depict Black bodies in water, it carries a powerful historical undertone," she explained, referring to the legacies of slavery that her previous works have evoked. "Yet, in this particular body of work, I used my daughters to symbolize the female form, and their being Black is incidental."
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Rawles' portrait "Beyond the Certain Oblivion," courtesy of the artist and Lehmann Maupin, New York, Hong Kong, Seoul, and London.
Marten Elder/Courtesy of the artist and Lehmann Maupin
As part of her creative process, she delved into the tale of Lilith, a legendary character often portrayed as the defiant and malicious first wife of Adam. In ancient mythologies, Lilith's story encompassed different versions, such as her being formed from the same earth as Adam, her rejection of Adam's dominance, and her subsequent escape from the Garden of Eden.
Rawles found the idea of a woman facing demonization for desiring equality to be fascinating, particularly within the context of the declining women's rights in 2023. Surprisingly, she realized that society had regressed further than she had expected. As a means of reconciling her own expectations with reality for herself and her daughters, Rawles saw creating this series as a way of reconsidering and redefining these types of mythologies and stories. She believed it was crucial to reshape and preserve them. According to her, the only way to experience healthy development is through having choices and freedom. By depriving individuals of choices, she argued, we hinder their evolution, growth, and ability to become who they aspire to be.
In her artwork, "Beyond the Certain Oblivion," Calida Rawles depicted a map of the thirteen key states associated with the overturning of Roe. She intentionally blurred the edges of these states, allowing them to dissolve into the waves depicted in the painting. Rawles sees herself as a historian, capturing the present moment through her art. She hopes that this particular piece will find a home in an institution, serving as a record of this significant event in our history.
Rawles contemplates not only our collective past and shared struggle in the present, but also the future, particularly regarding her daughters as the next generation. She has faith in their strength and capability to envision and shape their own desired existence. "A Certain Oblivion" by Calida Rawles will be exhibited at Lehmann Maupin in New York from November 9 to December 16.
