SOLACE\\
Le Bien-Être
- 2022

I loosely based this piece on an earlier work of mine, "Euphorie (The Gold One)," with the idea of reworking its original concept. I used a similar metallic gold base to capture the luminescent quality of the earlier piece, whilst I explored deeper colour schemes, staying to a cooler-toned palette.

This work is quite different from my usual style. I deliberately minimised upon my usual fluid mark-making techniques and opted for a more detailed, deliberate approach. I also experimented with water-based inks, a medium that was new to me at the time. These choices were aimed at creating a more expansive and open feel in the artwork and were reflective of my emotions, signifying my need for control during a period when my health and body were in decline. As I mentioned in an earlier reference, "I was deeply interested in the idea of replicating aspects of 'Euphorie (The Gold One),' while also expanding and diversifying the concept. I focused on which elements felt most relevant to me, that allowed me to best express how I was feeling. I also leaned heavily on the creation of the base. My aim was for it to glow; I wanted it to radiate a rich, cool opalescence from within, adding an almost ethereal quality to the piece."

This cool-toned, luminescent work is more-or-less a departure from my typically vibrant and bold style. It’s serious and broaches deeper emotional depths. It invites the viewer in with its serene, juxtaposed chaos, offering a stark contrast in its understated elegance, and providing a more personal insight into my feelings, physical struggles and ongoing creative evolution.