When The Night (2023) is a artwork which merges portraiture and the community of Maida Hill together. The composition of the work is centred inside space with a sphere (which most likely represents a hollowed out moon) along with a crescent moon. From this we can understand that the artwork thus gives a dream vibe as it takes place within the night.
The work has symmetry, which guides the viewer towards the centre of the composition. This brings us to the crescent moon, where there is a figure on a swing and a figure behind them pushing them. The figures within the work are painted in a bold and contrasting way, which gives them prominence in the work. Below the figures, it goes underwater with whales, turtles, and aquatic vegetation.
Therefore, the painting successfully showcases the community in a very calm yet playful manner, creating an imagined environment (the moon, planet, and sea in a dreamscape). The dreaminess of the work thus allows the viewer to explore the community within the painting.
Space (2023), like the previous work, is part of a series of portraits of people who live in the Maida Hill area of central London. The two figures in the painting sit on a bench suspended in space and submerged in water.
The figures within the work are relaxed, seem to share a connection, and are at ease with the universe. The figures are also reflected from the water as they seem to be looking down on it- perhaps self-reflecting on themselves or in a state of peace or meditation. The light within the work creates a surreal feel as if it is floating in nothingness. Thus giving a dream-like state to the painting.
First, glancing at Gratitude (2024) brings you to a field of extremely colourful flowers that seem to be set upon a river that guides the viewer towards the sky. The title itself, ‘Gratitude’, tells of what you see as these flowers, and the bursts of colour in this more abstract composition produce happiness in the viewer and bring the viewer into this world it showcases. The composition itself is explosive of life, and if it were to be put on a white wall frameless, the viewer could imagine it and extend it out as it is a recognisable scene that gives joy.
The peaceful piece invites the viewer to meditate with the flowers and become a part of the painting. The flowers are growing together chaotically, yet this chaos is in a way that feels intentional and grounded, giving order to this scene. The bee on the flower also brings in the idea of nature being symbiotic- in that everything relies on everything. Thus, we can be grateful for these flowers as they provide the life we take for granted to this planet.