Embraced
60 x 86 cms I Oil on Canvas
An other-worldly figure in color in the foreground stands in self-embrace; the background gradually develops into a dark tunnel. The figure remains static while the background adds shadow and movement as the tunnel appears further away with each darker shade. She fades away into her self embrace, to a dark, comforting place.
This piece was painted during the lockdown, during which many of us found ourselves forced into isolation, giving us a lot of time for introspection. The lack of physical contact contributed to the ethos behind it. My inspiration for this piece is self-love and embracing oneself. Surrealism allowed me to experiment with the human figure. She comforts herself with her never-ending arms; her form displays femininity with curves and a graceful posture. The spherical shapes in the background contrast the more realist-inspired figure to experiment with the composition.
The aura of this piece is spiritual; the message is to come as you are, to love and reassure oneself regardless of the depths of the unknown/shadows behind.
"Embrace the glorious mess that you are" - Elizabeth Gilbert.
