Il Bacio del Perdono

Il bacio del perdono

Il bacio del perdono (The Kiss of Forgivness) is the third piece of the series “Uomo e Donna.” Like the other paintings preceding it in this series, it represents a man and a woman in a semi-abstract fashion by using dramatic colors and simplifying the human form into its geometrical essentials. In this painting, however, the man and the woman are not embracing each other as they are in “Sensibilitá di donna” and “Il Pescatore e la sirena.” They are sitting on the floor hunched-over, facing opposite directions and seemingly, upset at one another. Nevertheless, a closer examination of their body language—the points of contact between their two bodies—and the expressions on their faces reveals something more. The vibrant reds and oranges dominating the background represent the intensity of emotions the couple is experiencing and meant to create a great contrast along side the cool blues, purples and greens dispersed throughout the painting. Said contrast embodies the disharmony of the moment. While the large indigo window set in the background is a critical element for the painting’s composition, its violet-blue hues provide the viewer’s eye with a “resting” area which naturally frames the man and the woman’s telltale faces. The indigo window also serves to symbolize a metaphorical window into their minds, one which represents a desire for union and peace and which is always present even during the fiercest moments of a conflict.

Il pescatore e la sirena

Il pescatore e la sirena

Il pescatore e la sirena (The Fisherman and the Mermaid) is the second painting of the series “Uomo e Donna” by Maria Makki. The dominating color scheme is made up of a palette of creamy blues and sea-greens. At the same time, the two subjects, the fisherman and the mermaid, which define the painting's strong composition, are composed of vividly colored shapes and forms. The contrast between these two--the serene blues of the background (including the fisherman's head and the mermaid's tail) and the bright multi-colored bodies—is a critical element not only for its visual power but also for its capacity to convey the intensity of the bond that exists between the fisherman and the mermaid. Outside the window, one can see a violent storm is unleashing its fury and waves are crashing against a sandy shore. Inside the fisherman's modest home, however, the mermaid sleeps peacefully, nestled in the fisherman's arms.

Like Paul Cézanne, who wanted to treat nature by the cylinder, the sphere and the cone, Makki is interested in the simplification of naturally occurring forms to their geometrical essentials. The fisherman's arm, for instance, is represented as a cone split in half.

The different textures created by altering brushstroke techniques is another important element of this piece. The bodies are composed of thin, long brushstrokes of an array of blues, greens, yellows, pinks, and purples and so on, while the background was painted with thick, messy brushstrokes of a limited color palette. The Mermaid's tail, however, has the most unique texture, as it was painted emulating the pointillism technique made famous by the founder of neoimpressionism, George-Pierre Seurat.

Sensibilitá di donna

Sensibilitá di donna

Sensibilitá di donna, the first painting of the series “Uomo e Donna” by Maria Makki, depicts a woman embracing a man, who in turn, is resting his head on her shoulder. The painting style can be described as semi-abstract and was inspired by the works of Picasso. While the subjects are easily recognizable, some creativity is required to make out the different fruit-inspired shapes making up the man and woman's body. The artist's use of vivid colors applied in multiple layers creates an empowering visual effect which is sure to catch the attention of anyone who loves colorful art. The expressive brush-strokes which compose the subjects and background not only transmit an explosion of color but also create movement in the painting which brings the subjects to life.
The frenzy of rapid brush-strokes and the somewhat chaotic company of vividly colored shapes constituting the subjects are masterfully balanced by the serene atmosphere created by the collection of airy leaves in the foreground and the underlying turquoise color composing the background. The expressions on the faces of the man and woman also contribute greatly to the painting's calming effect. The woman's face, in particular, is one revealing wisdom, peacefulness, patience, and compassion.