The work:Lu Bennett, A Soul Anchor, 2021. Charcoal on paper, 42 x 29.7cm.Courtesy: the artist.
Of this piece, artist Lu Bennett states that, “A Soul Anchor is my favourite example of everything going right.” Executed in quick, arching strokes of charcoal accented with smoky shading, this figural study is beautifully executed from a surprising source. Though initially focused on landscapes, Bennett’s practice had to adapt to the extraordinary circumstances of the pandemic. Unable to travel far and mostly limited to the fettered view of the natural world provided by a window frame, the artist had to instead turn to cyberspace for inspiration. The internet brought models and artists together virtually as many sought to continue creating and innovating in spite of these unprecedented times, and A Soul Anchor was a product of Bennett’s successful forays into the digital realm. One can feel the genuine connection between model and artist in this piece, despite their geographic separation. There is a sense of immediacy captured in Bennett’s mark making, with the model’s face and extremities dispensed with in favour of capturing the sensuous arch of the model’s back and thigh. Lines abruptly end or break, speaking to the speed of the work’s execution, the snap of a charcoal stick made permanent among the contours of the human form.