(see example here by Francis Bacon. I saw this painting 'in the flesh', and it was a terrifying visage, indeed).
I think that the narrative behind that idea is way more powerful and full. If one takes away the noise from a scream, it becomes that much more oppressive in nature, that much more helpless and horrible. No one can hear them scream, so what does the screamer do now? I think that what a silent scream says has an even bigger, louder, more wounded voice than one with sound. Interesting concept, no? But if you think about it, it rings true.
It always makes me question what it is, that makes the person so terrified....and then, does it matter, specifically? It doesn't, because I can actually see the terror visually. It's a remarkable thing, coming from a mere human emotion a face, a mouth. Why does the mouth seem to be one of the most powerful indicators of emotion on the face, aside from the eyes....? I think it's the fact that the mouth, in essence, is a very large hole. And holes in bodies, to put it mildly, are generally more vulnerable areas. They are the entrances into someone... the all too human and flawed body, and the soul.
To me, a scream is a scary thing to see on someone's face, with or without the aid of any sound. But I know that silence has its own, unique kind of terror, as well.
Throughout the years, I have done several 'silent scream' paintings/prints already...
Untitled Scream
Aback
Invisible Unless I Shout
...and I've been thinking for a few months on how and why I would do more. I'm almost there.
(all images copyright protected, Shana R. Goetsch)
2 comments:
i do love these, especially invisible. it really makes sense to me. reminds me of my house when i was 11.
remember i told you my recurrent nightmare i had all through high school and into college? at first i always focused on the dude at the end of the hall, but after i started picking it apart i realized the nightmare was actually centered around me and my screaming. or lack therof...i would scream and scream with no noise as he charged me. the only noise in the entire terror is when i drop my mirror and it shatters into nothingness.
i would rather have been screaming....
i like how you say when you take the noise away it becomes helpless and horrible. thats exactly it. (how i felt about what happened to me and my sister, i had no voice, no one listened. there was no noise. helpless...became my nightmare.
when i say 'love' the scream...that's what i mean by it...the narrative of the scream contains so much more charge in it. it's an extra element, and the silence IS more about helplessness than anything else.
it's a good metaphor for helplessness.
Post a Comment