Only With You - Hamish Blakely

Artist Hamish Blakely comments on "Only with You"

"The main point of this piece is the gentle expression of the couples relationship as opposed to the more dramatic, athletic treatment, much of my dance pieces contain. These two know each other very well. This is evident in the relaxed intimacy they share and I doubt I could have achieved the same feeling of closeness had I depicted two professional dancers who were simply demonstrating their expertise. It is possible, of course, but I believe it would be missing something.

This way, with the girls head tipped back in dream-like abandon and the mans head so closely facing hers, the eroticism is restrained and all the more poignant for being so. This is reinforced by the way he holds her. With her leg coiled provocatively around his lower waist, his hand does not grip her possessively or expectantly, it is almost gliding on her thigh with the thumb lifted away, to suggest that anything more would be overstated. This shows effortless familiarity and trust between the two main and most important themes of this piece.