Thomias Radin Étude du sol I – macaco, 2024

Étude du sol I – macaco is an oil painting on linen in the artist’s wooden frame.

Étude du sol I – macaco is the first painting from a series of gestural works painted in broad brushstrokes to capture the movement of the anonymous figures. The works share formal characteristics as Radin couples large, semi-transparent, dynamic brushstrokes with finer, darker lines. Radin’s use of these different brushstrokes not only stresses the given motion but also articulates the shadows.

This particular work depicts a figure bending backwards with one hand on the ground and lifting one foot up. The brushstrokes suggest a high speed of motion and suggests a back handspring. The title translates to “Study of the Floor” and all of the works in this series represent movements that start from the floor, drawing from diverse dance practices such as capoeira, hip-hop, and contemporary dance. Macaco is a move in capoeira, the Brazilian martial art and dance form.