Dance of the Tree of Life (After Matisse), 2020

68 in. x 92 in.
Acrylic and Graphite on Paper; Digital Embroidery on Cloth

Site-specific installation for The Doris Duke Museum of Islamic art and Design

 

Created specifically for the Mihrab Hallway in the Doris Duke Museum of Islamic Art and Design, Portner drew on textiles in the museum's collection with "Tree of Life" motifs – a design that both Jewish and Arab art have in common. While there is a connotation of superficiality when it comes to understanding "decorative" patterns, the cultural and historical meanings contained in these motifs are more than cosmetic. Concerned with this tension between surface and depth, between appearances and meaning, Portner has created a personal tree of life with colors, shapes, and textures that respond directly to what she noticed at Shangri La - the visible surf break, the textiles on walls, and the lustrous mihrab. Vibrant figures dance and tumble among this riot of ornament, exuding exuberance and connecting literally and figuratively with the patterns that give shape and meaning to an affirming composition.