"Portrait of Sandra Kalijan-Nesvada," one of Marion
Mullinder's quieter, somber works.
South African Marion Mullinder, wife of South African Consul General Louis Mullinder, is exhibiting about 60 of her works in all these media and others at the Russian Museum for three weeks in December.
She has said that while European travels influenced her work, she considers herself an African artist and draws on Africa -- the landscape, the weather, even her childhood -- for much of her inspiration. This love for her homeland is evidenced in her bold and expressive use of color in her paintings, which contrasts sharply with the cold "European" light and shadow.
Abstract landscapes show a busy interplay of brilliant primary colors with white and black. At the same time, abstract portraits reminiscent of Picasso's cubist period in cool neutrals and warm earth tones show the wide range of Mrs Mullinder's talents.
Further on in the exhibit, her provocative "Liberation" is dominated by barbed wire and torn paper in red, yellow and blue. Also visible in the montage are London scenes, black-veiled women and red crosses.
While her landscapes and abstracts are busy and bright, many of her portraits are understated and detached. "Portrait of the Artist's Mother" shows a pale, elderly woman looking out a window, head propped on her hand, nearly overwhelmed by a black blanket.
Another portrait, "Nude," shows a bearded, balding man looking off the painting in a disinterested fashion.
Mrs Mullinder's other works are just as varied. "Untitled" (1990), full of Chagall-esque purples and greens, looks like it comes from a completely different era than "Torso," a splashy gouache in a big black frame. One sculpture on display, "Tribute to Malevich I/II," shows a bronze reclining stick-figure saluting the viewer. (SPP)