On the Purpose of Painting

Creating art is a fundamental part of my identity and a way for me to express my emotions and thoughts. When I make images, I feel like I’m connecting with something deeper. This process feels like a journey, where each brushstroke or pencil mark leads to new insights and understandings.

Art helps me capture the complexities of life—its beauty, chaos, and mysteries. Each piece I create represents a specific moment, emotion, or idea that interests me. Making art isn't just about creating something that looks nice; it’s also a way for me to engage with the world around me and express my experiences through visuals.

The creative process itself is often mysterious and exciting. Sometimes I have a clear goal; other times, I let my instincts take over. It’s in that balance between planning and spontaneity that I gain new insights. Each artwork becomes a way for me to communicate with myself and explore my thoughts and feelings.

In the end, making art helps me appreciate the complexities of life more deeply. It allows me to reflect on my own experiences and connect with others. Art can evoke emotions in its viewers and reflect the mysteries of our existence. Through my work, I hope to encourage others to think about their own journeys and the beauty found in life’s complexities.

Place, Experience and the Painted Surface

I have travelled extensively and have drawn inspiration from many different places. The countries where I have lived and worked inevitably find their way into my paintings; they appear repeatedly, even when my focus seems directed elsewhere.

In my work, I do not aim to depict a specific place or geographical location. Instead, I am more interested in personal experience: the shapes, colours, and textures that can be combined to create unexpected visual outcomes. I strive to evoke a sense of time passing—of change occurring amidst permanence, and permanence existing amid change.

Seeing and Perception

The visible world is just the outer layer that we perceive with our eyes. When we discuss seeing and perception, we quickly realise that what we see is only part of the story — the tip of the iceberg.

We don’t simply see what is directly in front of us; we perceive things in relation to ourselves, our past, and our accumulated experiences. If my paintings evoke an uncertain quality, it may indicate that I have made some progress. Nothing in our world remains the same. Nothing is fixed.

This is where the true power of painting lies — in the alchemy of materials, memory, awareness, and emotion.