Woman 7 is an intimate and delicate work executed on silk, a medium that lends a natural luminosity and ethereal softness to the piece. Measuring 20 x 30cm, the painting focuses on a singular feminine subject, blending the artist’s classical Mongolian training in sculpture and Thangka traditions with a refined, contemporary sensibility developed during her studies in San Francisco.
The use of silk allows for a sophisticated layering of pigments. The textures are smooth and fluid, with colors that appear to emerge from within the fabric rather than sitting atop it. The fine grain of the silk substrate adds a subtle sheen to the subject’s skin and attire, enhancing the overall sense of grace and quietude.
Subject Matter and Technique
The composition likely draws on Mica Onon’s background as a curator of Buddhist Art, particularly the precise linework and symbolic depth found in Thangka paintings. While the subject is a contemporary “Woman,” the influence of sculptural form is evident in the anatomical precision and the way the figure occupies the space—feeling three-dimensional despite the flat surface of the textile.
Color Palette: Expect a harmonious blend of earthy tones and soft washes, characteristic of traditional Mongolian aesthetics, potentially contrasted with the bold clarity often seen in Western fine art movements.
Linework: The details are likely rendered with meticulous care, using fine brushes to define the contours of the face and the delicate folds of clothing, mirroring the precision required in bronze casting and religious iconography.
Narrative and Atmosphere
Created in 2006, shortly after the completion of her Master of Fine Arts, this piece represents a bridge between the artist’s Mongolian heritage and her international academic experience. The atmosphere is one of contemplative stillness. By naming the piece “Woman 7,” Onon suggests a series of explorations into identity and form, where the individual is treated with the same reverence and technical mastery as the historical artifacts she once curated.
The small scale of the work invites the viewer into a close, private dialogue with the subject, highlighting a mastery of sculptural balance expressed through the delicate medium of paint and silk.
