Under Sky, Over Ocean
Studio Paintings
Modular Variables
2021
Silica, Pigments, and Eucalyptus cellulose fibre (biodegradable glitter) on timber substrate.
Dimensions: H 37cm x W 30cm x D 7cm
Entangled
2020
Material: Ultramarine and Phalo blue pigments, Shoalhaven silica and Eucalyptus cellulose fibre (biodegradable glitter) on timber substrate
H: 28 cm W: 19 cm D: 7.5 cm
At first glance, I might categorise my digital works and textural paintings as disparate entities, given their different thrusts. The former is rooted in conceptual narratives, utilising the precision of technology to depict tales of displacement and history. The latter, however, thrives on the raw, visceral power of personal experience. However, on closer observation, the threads binding both mediums emerge, and one of the most potent threads is my exploration of monochrome, particularly my obsession with the colour blue.
My textural works are a testament to the imperfections of memory. They do not present a clear or precise picture but convey the recollection's hazy, fragmented nature. The granular quality of my chosen materials, like sand, mirrors the granular nature of memory – where some details are sharp and clear, while others fade or shift over time. This experience-driven approach serves as a counterpoint to my more conceptually driven digital works, offering viewers a more personal, intimate insight into my psyche.
However, my work's most profound and recurring motif is blue. For me, blue is more than just a hue; it is a vehicle for exploring black identity and my connection to Africa. This colour resonates in the musical legacies of Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, and John Coltrane – all jazz giants and paragons of black excellence. Their music, imbued with deep emotional cadences and intricate histories, frequently returned to the theme of 'blue', whether explicitly in titles or implicitly in mood.
Growing up displaced from Africa, it is no surprise that I found solace in the sounds of these jazz maestros. Their music represented the pinnacle of artistic achievement and a tether to the continent I had lost. The 'blue' in their music – often a melodic exploration of pain, joy, struggle, and hope – provided a conduit for my yearnings and memories. It represented a thought line, a pulsating vein of history, leading back to the vast landscapes of Africa.
In adopting blue as a central theme in my paintings, I do more than pay homage to these musical legends. I use the colour as a canvas to explore the multiplicities of black identity. Blue becomes a symbol of the vastness of the African diaspora, the depth of its pain, the richness of its culture, and the hope for a future where these narratives are neither forgotten nor marginalised.
In conclusion, my monochromatic explorations, especially my fixation on blue, present a profound marriage of personal memory and broader historical narratives. While my digital works might engage the mind with their sharp conceptual narratives, my paintings touch the soul, offering a deep dive into the ocean of black identity and the undulating waves of the African experience.
Endurance
2020
Synthetic Polymer, Silica, pigment, eucalyptus cellulose (biodegradable glitter) on plywood board, aluminium frame.
158 cm x 122 cm x 8cm framed