Review: The Waiting - Lena Semenkova Feature

by NDK Creative Artist

The Waiting depicts what appears to be a storm-washed sepia sky, with a moon just above the ocean’s horizon on the left. Three sailing ships, of the Cutty Sark variety are sailing across the picture from the background to the foreground, towards a surf-swept beach on deep green waters approaching a state of calm.

On the right in the extreme foreground is a woman’s face with a skull-mask painted on her face in what is a very dramatic picture. Her face is lit strongly by the moon’s harvest light, making the white face paint glow against softer skin above rouged sensuous lips.

“Mastery of the Metaphor”

An earring emerges from an ear in shadows and large eyes are looking upward out of the picture and over the shoulder of the viewer. It’s a like a moment from a scene in someone’s life, which immediately evokes the concept of the title demonstrating visual mastery of the metaphor.

Waiting however, is not the only concept present in this picture, patience and hope are present in the expression and calm repose of the subject.

The death mask adds poignancy, and because it is in an intimate association on the face of this young woman—just a mask of molecular chemicals between her being and the world—one feels immediately that she not only contemplates death daily, but accepts it as her inevitable fate, even as she waits for the march of ships across the horizon, coming ever closer, to find her, a passenger willing to leave the safety of the shore she looks back at, even as she desires to undertake the journey that may change her life.

TFA: Is The Waiting about that famous phrase “waiting for my ship to come in”?

Lena: The process of waiting is a powerful state of the human-being. Waiting for the worst, hoping for the best. Aren’t we all hoping for a ship to come and take us to the place where we belong?

TFA: Yes. You’re right; it’s a very powerful concept that figures much in our daily lives. I love the way you have used the light in this picture. Are you the model in this one?

Lena: No, the angle is just similar to the angle of one of my pictures online.

Feature Index

1. Lena Semenkova - Camouflage of Contradictions
2. Digital Art and Photomanipulation
3. Review: The Imitator
4. Review: The Waiting
5. Review: Superstar
6. Interview Part 1
7. Review: The Kingdom
8. Review: Like a Bird
9. Interview Part 2
10. Review: Ghost Rider
11. Review: All the snowflakes must die
12. Interview Part 3
13. Review: Red Skull
14. Review: Prisoner of Conscience
15. Review: War
16. Conclusion

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If you'd rather we did all the hard work, you're in luck. Here's a list of articles that are related to this one:

• Review: Superstar - Lena Semenkova Feature
• Review: Red Skull - Lena Semenkova Feature
• Lena Semenkova - Camouflage of Contradictions
• Interview Part 1 - Lena Semenkova Feature
• Review: Ghost Rider - Lena Semenkova Feature