Flesh, Study of Skin, Oil on Canvas, T. Datsi 1998
Sold to the University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, 2001
Our skin is an organ that functions not only as a barrier but also as a connection to the outside world. It is literally connected to our perceptions about the world as it develops from the same tissue as the brain in neonatal development. My interest in the anatomy and texture of skin has grown out of perplexing sensations in which there is pain during periods of stress, and unbelievable calm and comfort when soothed by deep pressure.
I must make the note that Flesh was sold to the University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine in the second orientation shown above. I had found that the original orientation was a bit too intense for the environment in which it was to be shown and so switched the view...taking out the obvious reference to a screaming face. In this orientation the reproduction of the look of skin could be focused on instead of the overly emotional nature of the piece.
