Gerald Wartofsky

May 2007

Karin by Gerald Wartofsky As a child in WWII Vienna, my wife's dolls were of great comfort and solace. The passage of time worked erosions on the dolls in surface disfigurements and altered patinas. I imagine the dolls being possessed with a compelling "persona", a proxy to humankind.

Throughout the years I became more intrigued with their enigmatic qualities, attempting to translate them in painting and drawing through diverse statements. I explored alternating "expressionistic" distortions and "classical" refinements. There are diversions in incorporating this subject with other themes which lead to ambiguities. I subconsciously wished to bring the dolls to "life", reflecting on the Pygmalion and Prague Rabbi and his "Golem" archetypes.

My wife's dance choreography is autobiographical. Her kinetic form is paralleled with her prose/poetry writings entitled "Moments: A Dancing Life".

My interpretative paintings try to fuse her dance with other themes, some emanating from musical, literary, and Kabbalistic sources. Once again, ambiguity prevails.