PAINTINGS

'LIE BACK I THINK I LOVE YOU'
Oil On Canvas, 72cm x 72cm
Incl. Oak Box Frame £2,995.00

On return from my long awaited pilgrimage to India, I began a series of detailed paintings inspired by my experiences. I also wanted to use the rich & vibrant colours that I'd witnessed during Holi. In these densely patterned surfaces I hoped to somehow combine both Western & Eastern cultures.

During this time I revisited Raqib Shaw's exhibition 'Garden of Earthly Delights.' His sophisticated, erotically-charged works depict fantastical, hedonistic worlds that are populated by mythical creatures. These paintings were inspired by Hieronymus Bosch's C15th visionary triptych. One of the reoccurring themes in his paintings is the bestial coupling of animals, which this painting also alludes to.

I also studied books on the Japanese art form 'Kazari', which has spiritual connotations, meaning 'to decorate or adorn', almost like an offering. "Kazari is a transient sensation that through surprise & splendour can transmute the ordinary into the extraordinary". I've always been fascinated with the idea of using decorative materials to make something that delves beyond the ornamental.

The title of the piece is inspired by the well-known saying, which refers to unwanted sexual advances, often in a loveless marriage. In Edwardian England mothers gave this advice to their daughters, on their wedding night. Through these paintings I wanted to question the changing nature of our physical & emotional relationships with one another, especially in view of recent technological advances & people's interaction with social media apps such as Tinder or Snap Chat.

This particular design was also produced as bespoke, hand printed wallpaper for a private commission.