Seen in My Room: Double Portrait

Although this piece is small and simple, it was my first choice from the ArtMate program. Many people might wonder why I chose a work without color instead of something more aesthetically pleasing or famous, such as a piece by Warhol, Dalí, or Miró. I first encountered Alex Katz’s work four years ago at his solo exhibition at the Guggenheim in New York. I was drawn to the simplicity and bold colors of his cut-out portraits, and I found his style both unique and aligned with my own. I even used Katz as an inspiration for my self-portrait in my IB Visual Arts class during high school.

So, when I learned that I could have an original Katz in my dorm room, I literally ran to claim it first. Thankfully, no one else wanted it. I don’t know who the figures in the work are, but I enjoy creating new theories whenever my gaze meets the lithograph. Are they the same woman at different ages? A pair of twins? A mother and a daughter? I have no idea. I hung it above my desk so I can look at it often and wonder. The piece has given my room a special atmosphere and has helped me appreciate my new home more.

– Afroditi Godi ’29