After ‘Venus’, Cy Twombly, 2024
Oil paint, wax crayon, charcoal, oil stick,ink, paper, on canvas
150 x 100 cm
This oil painting pays homage to Cy Twombly's extensive body of work inspired by ancient mythology, focusing on the symbolic evolution and eventual fading of the Morning Star (Venus) in human history. At the center of the composition, the word "VENUS" stands out as the most prominent element, referencing Twombly’s Venus (1975) and highlighting the focal theme of the piece—our modern-day association of the Morning Star with Venus.
The asterisk in the upper left corner serves as both an abstract symbol of a star and a cuneiform representation of divinity. Surrounding flowers and the heart motif at the bottom draw inspiration from Twombly’s Untitled (Toilet of Venere)(1988). The characters appearing in the center of the canvas reflect the diverse names for the Morning Star across ancient civilizations, charting its transformation from a symbol of the Great Mother Goddess to an emblem of fallen desire. Subtly beneath these texts, a charcoal sketch of an ancient Roman Venus statue emerges, adding a layer of historical reference.
The artist, deeply engaged in the study of mythology and history, finds resonance with Twombly’s exploration of these themes. This work reflects that dialogue. Beneath the seemingly soft, fluid warm tones lies a deconstruction of how power has been shaped through imagery and language throughout human history.
这幅画向Cy Twombly对古代神话的深刻探索致敬，聚焦于启明星在人类历史中的演变与逐渐被遗忘的记忆。画面中央醒目的“VENUS”字样，引用了Twombly的《Venus》（1975），确立了作品的主题，反映了现代人对启明星与金星的共识。左上角的星号既是抽象符号，也象征着楔形文字中对神祗的代表。而周围的花朵与爱心图案，则借鉴了Twombly的《Untitled (Toilet of Venere)》(1988)。画面中央的字符展现了启明星在不同古代文明中的名称，追溯了它从大母神象征到堕落欲望象征的转变。隐约出现在文本下方的，是一幅古罗马维纳斯雕像的炭笔素描，巧妙地唤起了对古典历史的联想。艺术家与Twombly对神话与历史的迷恋形成了共鸣，在作品中解构了权力通过图像与语言的传递方式，并将这一批判隐匿于看似柔和流动的暖色调之下。