“The Twist” by Haleh Mashian is an exploration of sensuality, power, and self-perception. The figure, captured in a poised yet ambiguous stance, tilts her shoulder ever so slightly, balancing between self-assurance and vulnerability.
Mashian’s brushwork is expressive and textured, giving the skin an almost sculptural quality. The earthy palette—muted ochres, deep umbers, and shadowy greens—grounds the figure in a raw, almost primal energy. There’s an intentional roughness to her form that recalls the cabaret figures of Toulouse-Lautrec, yet Mashian reinterprets them with a contemporary depth, stripping away performance to reveal something more intimate.
The contrast between her long gloves, garter belt, and partially exposed skin further amplifies this duality. Is she playing a role, or is she reclaiming her own narrative? That ambiguity is precisely what makes “The Twist” so captivating.
