Inka Essenhigh (American, born 1970). Deluge, 1998 Oil enamel on canvas, 72 x 72" (182.9 x 182.9 cm.). Collection Albright-Knox Art Gallery. Sarah Norton Goodyear Fund, 1998.

In an age of satellite TV, the Internet, and global positioning systems, even artistic media are increasingly giving way to the high-tech. In this epoch, what is the role of painting? Inka Essenhigh's painting, Deluge, 1998, offers a response to this by depicting a tumble of body parts and urban debris, which represents the fragmented effects of this engulfing cultural wave. Captured on a high-gloss, slick surface, Deluge may be an interpretation of The Great Wave, 1823-29, by the Japanese master Hokusai. Essenhigh's work also pays homage to a number of Western artists, including the grotesque worlds represented by Yves Tanguy, Roberto Matta Echaurren, and Francis Bacon. Essenhigh is a young artist enjoying international attention for her provocative and coy land- and mindscapes. By acquiring Deluge, the Gallery continues its tradition of collecting works before their place in the history of art has been determined.

- Jennifer Bayles, Educator for Special Projects