The Figure in the Development of "The Beast" Series

C.S. Krstich, Artist

The figure as a minimal image reduced to lines, using but three brush strokes to create it. At first the figures were non-iconic. They were only representational, a generic figure in an abstract landscape background. One or more human figures abstracted over an abstract background.

The work progressed to a more representational figure while the background remained abstract. In the piece "Mt. of Olives", the figure became an interpretation of the Christ figurehead. The tree in the background, though still abstract, is configured to demonstrate the sexual nature of religion.

A natural progression was the development of "The Beast" series. With this series was brought a more naturalistic figure, one where emotions were displayed through action poses against a color field (background). The figure was created in motions of escape or hiding from the "Beast". The "Beast" of the title is presented as the color field itself. The paintings are a statement about the abusive and all pervasive hold that society has on its members and those solitary attempts to assert individualism.

"Portrait of a Murder" is the culmination of the analysis of the simple but naturalistic figure. This 58"x65" piece comments on a heinous incident in the Jeffrey Dahlmer case. A young Korean victim of Dahlmer's tries to escape. Due to the pervasive repression and prejudices against people of color and homosexuals, he was remanded back to his murderer by the police, society's representatives of power.

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® C.S. Krstich 1996