The Musume (which means daughters in Japanese) / Daughters Series consists of two paintings of Yasuko, the daughter of a Japanese English teacher who the artist Susanne MacKay met in Kyoto and one painting of her friend, Chinatsu. The two girls were to sent to Nova Scotia to practice English conversation. The other two paintings are of MacKay's own daughter, Elise. Although these paintings are of specific people, Susanne MacKay does not consider them so much portraits as crystalizations of some sense of the essence of daughters - all daughters. Although realistic they are not so much the superficial portayal of a posing figure as a suggestion of the "being" of the person. Here we have daughters from widely differing parts of the world: daughters who are precious to their parents: daughters who are open but hesitant, hopeful but anxious, tender and innocent of much of how their lives will unfold but strong like bamboo and willow branches. In some sense this is a plea for a deep awe and appreciation of life and its protection by inviting the viewer into a vulnerable and yet safe "I-Thou" relationship with these specific and also symbolic people. Hopefully, their perceptions can be deepened and then reflect in a shift of their awareness of others in their lives. Perhaps other daughters can be experienced as works of art.
All of the formal qualities of these works serve and are the communication of the message or meaning of this series. The larger than life size, the delicate handling of the paint, the cropping and occasional framing, the triangle of black, the Pierrot and the wintery background all are meant to invoke conscious and unconscious memories, associations and emotions which enhance the meaning of the paintings.
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"Kakisome", 1988 |
"Chinatsu", 1988 | |
"Yasuko", 1992 |
"Elise #3", 1993 | |
"Elise with Pierrot", 1993
40 x 30 in, Alkyd and Oil
| ©1999-2001 Susanne MacKay |