Portfolio statement

I am interested in exploring the complexities of people's relationship with politics and culture through painting; keen to capture an understanding of the nuances of identity and heritage, true to the individual I am portraying. Themes underpinning recent work are injustice and societal inequality: the unmerited privilege people experience due to race, gender, and age. I want more than anything, to make a difference. If my art has meaning, brings awareness, or leads someone to question their preconceptions, then I have the potential to create positive change.

 

The way Alan Coulson captured expressions, complex skin tones, and realistic depiction of fabric in his painting 'Latoya' inspires my handling of oil paints. Both Khadija Saye and Lina Iris Viktor explore cultural identity and heritage; I aspire to create meaningful work that can stand alone as a piece of aesthetic art. Current political events influence my work. A Chinese newspaper article about the Hong Kong protests prompted me to research and portray aspects of Eastern politics. The book “Brit(ish)” by Afua Hirsch, discussing race and identity, helped inform recent exploratory work examining systemic racism, arranged marriage, and isolation experienced during the pandemic.

 

Cesar Dezfuli’s photography series: ‘Passengers’, the media portrayal of refugees, and research into ‘The Inside-Outside Project’ inspired my exploration of migration. My two gouache portraits juxtapose children's innocence with their response to the experiences beyond their years. Embossed details, spoken words, and symbolic references illustrate fragments of their identities. I would like to further explore the integration of printmaking within a painting, to present complex narratives once I can access equipment post-lockdown.

 

I would like to paint on a larger scale. I felt a large landscape painting was less successful; the fluidity and freeness of smaller preceding studies was not fully translated. I am keen to advance my self-taught oil painting skills: I have explored different mediums, learning about the effect on drying time, opacity and sheen; experimented with building multiple layers up and creating quickly alla prima. I am discovering that not every piece will reflect my initial intention, but can prompt another thought process or idea, allowing me to find alternative approaches.

 

I want to have more time to explore, experiment and develop my painting within a supportive community, something I feel the course at Brighton embodies. I would love to participate in collaborative projects as I missed out on this during my Art Foundation due to the pandemic. The different modules and workshops provided will allow me to gain a greater understanding of the materials, processes and technical skills used in painting. I love painting and studying for three years with a focus on this practice with specialist support from tutors would be an amazing opportunity.

 

My post-graduate ambition is to undertake a residency abroad to experience another culture as the inspiration for my painting. My ultimate aim is to be a successful practising artist documenting and exhibiting disappearing and developing cultures, political events and humanitarian causes.

 

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