Flamenco by Iliana Dokova

Artwork Description

The passionate ecstasy of the soul does not stop the music...

Flamenco dance (baile) is a highly-expressive, Spanish dance form. Flamenco is a solo dance characterized by hand clapping, percussive footwork, and intricate hand, arm, and body movements. The dance is usually accompanied by a singer and guitar player. As the dancer begins to feel the music, the dancer might begin a steady beat of loud hand clapping. Then, as emotion builds, the dancer will begin a passionate dance. Iliana depicts the most passionate moment of the dance, the point where the dancer expresses her innermost emotions and feelings to an audience.

This is one of the rare paintings of Iliana, where she does not depict a woman naked body or face. The emotions are made by her brush here as a volcano of colors to express the soul ecstasy. The soul remains in the dance as captivated by the power of music and looks like a bare fire ball, of pure feelings and the rhythm of the clapping and the Spanish guitar. It only exists in and for this moment of passion.