acrylic, oil pastels on canvas – 50/61cm – 20″/24″ – (2010)
Sometimes, we can become our own jailor … However, dark times provide a Light to be found *
“FACELL” is a mix of words to echo different interpretations. Face, because it is a portrait and Cell, to echo both the cells of our body & the cell we put “guilty” people in. So we are what we are made of (by our self), mood, opinions, actions etc … If it makes sense. This artwork dates back from 2010 and was one of the very first ones i made after a +6 years hiatus. I think it is one of very last times that i used painting as a creative outlet. Since then my goal has always been to create in a freer way than just under the influence of X or Y heavy feelings.
It looks pretty obvious that the character of this portrait has heavy feelings, if not sadness and a feeling of dejection. I’ve never been a real fan of circus but i can remember that i’ve been captivated in a weird way by the “sad clown”. To me this face reminds me of it (he just misses his hat). It was also one of the last times i used written words in such a visible way, at the top of the canvas and it says “When-You-Face-Truth” … It’s this period of your life when you have to accept things you can’t change so you can move on (we all know this story). No turnaround but to face what you made as “your reality” and to solve what has to be solved.
This is why (i didn’t know it at the time but i understand it now) there are two animals featuring in this painting. On the left, you can see a black lizard climbing up the wall/background, like a dark spirit fleeing away from this body that not longer welcomes it. You can also see on the left side, a bird sitting on his shoulder. They’re having a dialogue as you can see the word “Do” in-between them. It shows the sincere motivation to just turn the page. Birds (to me) have always been a metaphoric entity. It means it will carry away the mental weight of the character to allow him to move on and in parallel to remind him to take an overview on things to get their implied meaning. In the end i guess it’s not a sad portrait but more of an illustrated turning point of a life’s journey *