« We dance roundd in a ring and suppose, but the Secret Sits in the middle and knows ». Robert Frost
For an artist, exploring the close at hand means penetrating a never ending mystery. Through his painting, Andrew Wyeth (1917Â-2009), became one of the few great masters capable of delving into and revealing this enigma. Wyeth's work, which is both completely individual and distinctive, is now regarded as a key pillar of the vision of modern America for his deep, manipulative and obsessive work on his close circle. His native town, Chadds Ford, provided his source of inspiration for his form of abstract realism, achieved through the exploration of its natural setting, buildings and inhabitants.
My decision to follow in Wyeth's footsteps and to retrace this intimate relationship in order to photograph and share it arose from a combination of admiration and artistic challenge. My aim was to capture something of the mystery and essence of Wyeth, of his modus operandi with settings and models for which purpose I walked among the hills of Chadds City and forced an intimacy with its inhabitants.
The Secret Sits is a commission of the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza on the occasion of the Andrew & Jamie Wyeh retrospective. It is on view until June, 19, 2016.
