jorgedacruzartwork
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dog

"DOG" is a striking charcoal drawing that captures the essence of a vast and awe-inspiring landscape. At the center of the piece, a towering mountain rises up, dominating the scene with its majestic presence. The surrounding landscape stretches out for miles in all directions, with intricate details etched into the charcoal to bring the scene to life. The weather depicted in the piece is changing rapidly, with dark clouds rolling in on the horizon and the threat of rain looming in the distance. The overall effect is one of drama and tension, with the landscape seeming to shift and change before the viewer's very eyes. But despite the tumultuous weather and shifting landscape, there is a sense of profound stillness and serenity in "GOD". The mountain at the center of the piece stands as a symbol of strength and endurance, a constant presence in a world that is forever in flux. The contrast between the two perspectives highlights the power dynamics at play in society and the way in which our relationship with the natural world is shaped by our values and beliefs. The mountain, like the concept of God, can be a source of inspiration and hope or a tool of oppression and exploitation. It is up to us to reflect on our relationship with the natural world. By cultivating a sense of reverence and respect for the natural world, we can rediscover the power and majesty of the mountain and maybe reconnect with the divine. With its powerful imagery and expert use of charcoal, "GOD" is a masterful work of art that speaks to the timeless themes of nature, power, and transcendence. It is a piece that will capture the imagination of viewers for years to come.JC

Dog - charcoal on paper | 240x160cm l © k37 studio, bethanien Berlin December 2018

Dog

In Dog, Jorge Da Cruz presents a large-scale charcoal drawing—measuring 240 × 160 cm and composed of sixteen joined sheets—as a meditation on perception, time, and the quiet tension that precedes change. The landscape unfolds between opposites: motion and stillness, light and sound, clarity and ambiguity. It draws on the natural delay between what is seen and what is heard—lightning arriving before thunder—to evoke a fractured yet unified experience of the world.

At the center of the composition, a mountain rises, immobile and monumental. This grounded form anchors the work, its stillness in stark contrast to the restless clouds above. Around it, the sky churns with approaching storm: sweeping strokes of charcoal give shape to clouds dense with movement, charged with energy. The mountain becomes more than a feature of terrain—it holds symbolic weight, suggesting endurance, stillness, and the presence of something beyond the visible.

The title Dog is a quiet reversal of “God,” a mirror or inversion that adds another layer of meaning. It does not explain but opens space: for reflection, ambiguity, and interpretation. It suggests dualities—earth and sky, the divine and the ordinary, presence and absence. Like the mountain, the title remains steady, but loaded with tension.

Charcoal enhances this atmosphere. Its tonal range—from deep black to soft grey—gives shape to both substance and air. The storm seems to hang in suspension, caught in a moment that resists resolution. The drawing captures not the climax but the pause before it: the space where everything is still becoming. The air feels thick, soundless but full.

Dog becomes a meditation on the threshold—the instant just before arrival, the space between sensation and meaning. It invites stillness, asking the viewer to remain within that suspended moment, and to recognize the unseen forces at work in the landscape. The work avoids spectacle in favor of restraint. It speaks quietly, yet holds weight.