MARLENE DUMAS - Supercontemporanea.

MARLENE DUMAS (1953-)

Electas lille fine serie: Supercontemporanea. 

MARLENE DUMAS may not seem like an informative title, unless the reader is aware that this series, Supercontemporanea, is devoted to monographs of only important artists of today. To be included means that the artist must have had enough exposure internationally to warrant inclusion in this prestigious collection of monographs. The text is by Ilaria Bonacossa the Curator at Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo in Torino, Italy. Subsequent to Bonacossa's involvement with this small booklet she published in 2009 the to this point definitive work on this artist.

For those familiar with the art of Marlene Dumas this little book may seem scant, but for those who do not know the impact this artist has made on the art world, this is a very fine brief introduction. Dumas is able to paint with what appears to be simple gesture technique and from within that framework she is able to tackle concepts of nudity, death, children and adults in erotic positions and acts, and faces of humanity that very simply offer their souls to the viewer. Her talent is huge and her ability to creep into the psyche of the viewer is as potent as anyone painting today. The works in this book cover examples of paintings completed between 1984 and 2006 and the commentary by Bonacossa is as succinct as the gestural painting of Dumas. They make a fine pair!

This may be a small volume, but even a small book of the images of Marlene Dumas becomes an important art volume. Grady Harp, December 10