Artist Statement

 ‘Eternity-self portrait with Ivana’

 Oil on linen  2020 

122 x 102 cm

For my self-portrait I wished to go beyond my facial features and include a further narrative that evoked who I am and how my life and art is intertwined.

I would not be who I am today without my partner Ivana – ours is a symbiotic relationship, complimenting each other from bringing up our two daughters to how we talk and discuss what is on the easel…she inspires me, challenges me and supports me. Together we developed this pose and composition in the studio mirror. We wanted the portrait to reflect my art practice, Ivana symbolising the figurative and to illustrate the close connection we have, as we hold each other. The use of mixed geometrical shapes particularly the triangles our arms make, mirroring ourselves in the painting but also epitomise our reality and thoughts. 

Furthermore this composition, with Ivana’s arm on my shoulder, creates the infinity symbol, guiding the eye to move in a flowing figure eight. In algebraic geometry, this figure is called a lemniscateand holds deep meaning for spirituality, love, beauty and power….a simple  balance of eternity.  There is a soft warm colour palette through-out the portrait including the background with the continuation of geometric shapes that subtly state studio objects.