63 Cornelia Schleime (b. 1953) And Then the Sky Was Red, 2022 Acrylic, asphaltum varnish and shellac on canvas 160 × 120 cm, inv. no. G 4142 The protagonist’s intense gaze draws us into Cornelia Schleime’s surreal pictorial world. The eponymous red sky lends the scene an unsettling, charged atmosphere. In front of the young woman lies a dead bird, its eyes open. Her black clothing, upturned collar and piercing stare give her an ominous presence. Is she responsible for the bird’s death? Or does its colourful plumage, faintly reflected in her hair, symbolise her own mortality and a looming loss of freedom? Birds are a recurring motif in Schleime’s work. She frequently pairs human and animal forms, evoking a fusion of inner and outer worlds that gives rise to shadowy, poetic narratives. In this painting, she applies materials such as asphaltum varnish and shellac with control and deliberation. Yet these substances dry overnight in unpredictable ways, producing blistering and discolouration that form a distinctive patina. Schleime conceals the resulting cracks beneath thick layers of paint, subtly underscoring the fragility of her figures. _PP
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