March 26 - April 19, 2009 The Geometric Figures

Paul Dibble first created his Geometric Figures as a return to an interest in the aesthetics of pure forms. They were first produced in the late ‘90s and in early 2000 and moved away from works which had used a more narrative basis of themes, underlying stories, reflections on current affairs and topical concerns. These new works were all figurative in content with the human form reduced to simple geometric shapes, reminiscent of early works by constructionists Archipenko and Zadkine.

The mathematical forms give the works a cool surreal elegance yet at the same time the figures are highly gestural, reflecting a strong sense of humanity.

This is what is magical about these studies, how in simplicity far more gesture is revealed than could be found in realism. The standing figures and their emotions are instantly understood. We recognize a leg, although it is reduced to a cone; a head, which is actually a sphere; and breasts, which are the negative space of simple holes in the torso. Even slight nuances and idiosyncrasies are shown - a tilt of the shoulder, a jaunty thrust of a hip, we can almost sense a blush or an assured gaze. Some of them modestly cover themselves with their hands or more timidly with crossed arms; other brazenly stand, their head tipped back as if in arrogant repose, with a cool haughty confidence.