Circo

Meaning “Circus” in Spanish, the piece “Circo” was created in conjunction with the German poem Das Karussell (The Carousel) by Rainer Maria Rilke. Bringing to light the sense of the word circus and Rilke’s analogy of the carousel to the balance and cycle of life, this piece is an onslaught of color, power, decay, and form. At first glance, the colors seem to go round and round, but intricate brushwork and effects engage the viewer much like the different carousel creatures appearing, then reappearing. The bright orange half circle in the center functions as a point of rest, but simultaneously leads into the right side of the piece with a single, blue stroke bursting forth through gray. This conveys the notion of how abstract art cycles through different viewers, reflecting more of themselves rather than imposing a rigid statement onto the viewer.