Jacques on Blake

Artist: Blake

Critic: Jacques

Blake's work, that was untitled when he presented it, is a large (roughly 18x18) black grey and white print on white paper. The small head silhouettes on the bottom right and bottom left are, from Blake info, his two roommates. From the two heads, that are probably of photographic origin, rises the main composition that forms a somewhat arch composed of many abstract forms, black grey and white.

Is the arch apparently emanating from the heads of the roommates represents their dreams, their thoughts, what they want to say in a cartoon manner, or is it simply a background that these two are observing? The black central area appears to be the background and looks like the opening of a grotto or a tunnel. This is reinforced by some white shapes at the top of the picture that are suggesting stones. However on the left side of the picture the look of stone moves into more complex shapes and arrangements of oblique lines and squares. Inside the main central black part we can see a very curly and ill defined cloud of grey. The start of the grey seems coming out the head of the woman. Below the main black center we return to the white with some marks of grey and white looking like finger painting. Is this the end of the black tunnel?

I am shared between two opposite interpretations of this image: -Violence: the starkness aggressiveness and disorder of all these black grey white shapes. Are those the ideas and utterances of people fighting one another as roommates as roommates sometimes do. -Serenity: this feeling is mostly supported by the calm visage of the woman who seems to look expectantly toward the tunnel that might be the future.

My too limited knowledge of abstract art does not allow me to compare Blake's work with any artist or artistic form (may be abstract expressionism?) My only criticism is that besides seeing a remarkable work of intaglio and printing, I honestly do not understand what Blake wants to convey in this work: serenity, anger, violence. I find difficult to write on something I do not comprehend which explains the briefness of my comments, and I am very anxious to hear Blake talk about his work.