PURE OPTIMISM
2009, Oil on Linen, 100 x 100cm
Pure is a series that explores humanity in an unconventional way. On the surface they could be seen as just moody skies. But to dismiss them so would be to miss the point: the clouds provide each painting was grounding in reality, but their main purpose is to provide a linking yet changing backdrop against which complex foreground dramas unfold.
Unusually, with these paintings the titles are as important as the works themselves, as they alert the viewer to the fact that they are not witnessing merely a scene, but that each is a quirky metaphor for a particular personality characteristic. With the combination of title and image, deeper meanings emerge, triggering the opening chapters to an endless array of stories the viewer is invited to create.