Description

JeanPaul Mallozzi. Tenacity. Edition Size: 30. 13x19 Giclee on 330gsm 100% Archival Cotton Paper. $35. It takes a mere second or two to realize the simplest fact about TENACITY. We are only seeing one figure (not six) progressing on that tightrope and Mallozzi's linear motif deliberately implies a series of immediate events. Go all the way to the extreme right to see how it begins; follow the figure, observe the captured moment that finds the boy fallen to the ground, note the momentary quest for equilibrium, and rejoice in what is (presumably) a successful completion of the trip. The fact that Mallozzi decided not to express emotions directly through facial features is crucial to the work's appeal. Combining the concepts of emotion as energy and the body's emotive nature, Mallozzi replaces an actual face with childlike gestures of color and lines. Any viewer can identify and sympathize with the fundamental idea presented here through the lyricism of the body language. The artist himself remarked that "a lot of people continually struggle on a daily basis trying to get ahead, fighting to keep their dreams and passions going. With each attempt, the boy gets a little further ahead, until he finally gains his balance.". That's more than tenacity - that's courage.