ABOUT THE WORK

For much of the late ‘90s until to the early 2000s, Marcel Antonio was the representative artist of his generation, with his works eagerly sought out by collectors. Now working as a mid-career artist, Antonio has not lost his initial stamina, still producing works that teem with symbolic import. In Girls of Summer, Antonio chose to be descriptive rather metaphorical, depicting two girls whose main task is to entertain guests. A pang of loneliness is visible on their eyes, as they ounger girl holds the hand of the other for protection. Behind them is a woman dancing topless to a beat. Across them is a table with its clutch of still life. This is a scene of tenderness that is on the verge of being violated. Is the viewer the guest whom the girls have mixed emotions about seeing? Or is this simply a snapshot of the girls in their youth who will soon confront the reality of life? Girls of Summer is a novella about coming-of-age.