LISA ZWERLING
STATEMENT
In 2005 I used images of war as potent narrative elements. I was haunted by the visuals of Iraq. In a poetic fiction I combined the wolves I’ve painted for several years with Apache helicopters. As I painted my reaction to the war, I found that my symbolic metaphor was indeed a reality. I learned that in Alaska helicopters are used in aerial gunning of wolves. Though the helicopters are not the expensive Apaches, the image is close enough to conflate war and ruthless extermination of animals.
Now after working with wolves as a primary image for several years, I have returned to the human figure. I am always looking for a big subject and I think that I’ve found it: age and aging. In the new large painting (see the painting page), I combine the landscape, animals, and figures. The inspiration is this Lucas Cranach Fountain of Youth in Berlin.
I look at the past and try to understand what the questions and challenges were. I see if those are relevant now. Then I answer them in my way -- a contemporary way. I may pay homage, but I do not imitate or appropriate.
For my Fountain of Youth, I used models, young and old, of both sexes. Cranach has the men carrying only old women to the Fountain. In Cranach’s world the men need no improvement, but old women are useless. In my painting both sexes take the plunge. In addition, I’ve painted smaller work of fountains and figures -- studies and finished paintings -- and some are on the site.
In all, I always try to make a memorable image.
Lisa Zwerling
