Richard Renaldi - The Nicolaysen Art Museum

Renaldi juxtaposes these studied, thoughtful portraits within
a setting that is not just a backdrop, but an extension of the
person. In a sense, thisequatesthesepeopleintheirexpressive
vulnerabilityandfrankpresentationwiththeanxiousfeelingarising
from an encounter with an overpowering, sublime, endless
expanse of nature that cannot be fully known or grasped.
In capturing the gravity and interior qualities of his subjects,
whilepersuadinghissitterstopresentthemselves as they are,
both artist and subject transcend the moment and medium.
This turns the interaction into an endless foray into memory,
narrative,adventure,fantasy,andemotion.There is no theatricality
or grandstanding in Renaldi’s portraits. His subjects are more
often than not, serious and contemplative, transmitting the
factthatthisinteractionisworththetimeandgravityofpurpose.
What you see is what you see. Except not. Whether
it is the stillness, focus, questioning, resolve, or curiosity in
these people, Renaldi’s portraits unfurl and draw us into their
depths, while becoming much more than the sum of their
surface attraction, color, depth, texture, and composition.
What is more exciting than discovering and exploring the
depthsofanother,atleastinthebeginningYes,wecannavigate
through recognizable traits and emotions as we are very
familiar with the landmarks, as they are us. It is also the
deep unknowing within that familiarity that is so resolutely
compelling. A mystery resides below the surface of these
people, one that gets lost and buried in daily life, as ritualized
tasks and the theatrics and rhythm of the everyday take
over. What is ultimately so hypnotic about these jewel-like,
iconic, and charismatic portraits is that, as viewers, we can
glimpse the moment that people are opening themselves
up to trust another in a setting that would normally be
replete with anonymity, boundaries, and the respectful
and welcome distance of strangers.
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