by Marko Marino
by Marko Marino
The story of this painting.....
This image was the result of the suicide bombings that we as a nation suffered on 9/11. About a week after the attacks, my sense of shock and sadness began to wear off and was replaced with a deep sense of anger. It was about this time that I saw a photo while browsing a magazine of two male tigers fighting and it resonated to the depths of my soul. At the time I did not understand why, but I immediately knew I had to take this image and embody the interpretation somehow--LARGE! At the time I did not know why, it was simply a powerful image.
The next day I built this large canvas and primed it vermilion. Again, I was following an urge, not a plan. There was no design preparation involved, I just chose the biggest brush I have and started applying paint as fast as I could. After two days of feverish work I had the tigers down on the bright red/orange background; and two test spots of yellow in the upper left corner of the canvas. The painting sat for two weeks in this state. I was stuck. I had done this huge piece and didn't know why! I knew it was unfinished but since I didn't really know what it was for, I didn't know how to finish it.
Then one night while watching reruns of the bombing sequences on the news, the pieces fell into place. I went out to my studio and began to paint again. The two yellow spots became the center of the explosion. The tilting towers superimposed themselves behind the tigers and melted into the composition filling the vermilion void and gave added force to the mod. I hope you feel what I felt.
This painting is currently unnamed. If you would like to suggest a title for this piece, please feel free to write your title suggestions, your feelings about the piece, comments regarding War and Peace, personal experiences with recent events.... I am interested in what you have to say. You may add any personal information about yourself that you care to leave if you would like to be contacted about future show, or if you would like to know if I select your suggestion for a title. I don't know where this painting will end up but I think people need to see it and I know there is a home somewhere waiting for it. Maybe you have some ideas about where it should go.
Thank you.