humiliation

This work has its origins in contemporary literature.

One source is Gabriel Garcia Marquez's novel - 'Of Love and other Demons'. In this novel, a young spanish girl - Sierva, daughter of a Marquis in 18th century colonial spanish america, is bitten by a dog. Rabies is confused for satanic possession and she is systematically tortured to death by the Church. The girl in the painting can be my imaginary literary portrait of Sierva María de Todos los Angeles.

Second source is Thomas Bernhard. An austrian writer whose two books - 'The Loser' and 'Yes' talk of societal humiliation - I have tried to depict this aspect of his work by the surrounding figures.One commentator describes Bernhard as - 'Bernhard was convincingly able to present a human situation devoid of meaning, with man as the victim of his own lack of realism, speech as a hopeless therapy to ward off death, and insanity as the horrible best of last resorts. In his work, the nihilism of this century found its most uncompromising expression.'

oil painting on canvas