i am ethel

In I Am Ethel, artist Jonatas Chimen presents us with an accumulation of several of his phases, styles, and bodies of work. The artist does so by freely integrating his realism and abstract expressionism in a very provocative and effective way. Seemingly disturbing at first, his palette makes blatant references to the womb, and his tonality immediately acknowledges In Thy Tent I Dwell – Chimen's glowing tent museum installation. The radiant-crowns-turned-thorns contained in these paintings are an additional commentary on the conflicting relationship between independent-thought and religious/social extremism, serving as yet another reference to the Inquisition in his artistic repertoire. As for the blank cutout-shapes, Chimen brings to mind the idea of possibilities, and of dealing with unresolved pathways. Different from Manet's blank canvas moments of blind spots, Jonatas Chimen is challenging and confronting the viewer with the “could haves,” “should haves,” and “might haves,” of life. This is how the artist helps bring forth history, all while making one ponder, wonder, and question their future imaginaries.
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