I'm interested in the boat as a symbol of the transitory nature of life. An intensely temporary space where there is an element of danger, and an air of exploration. These paintings are about journeys; both physical and emotional.
The most famous maritime paintings are predominantly 19th century depictions painted against the background of colonization, trade, wars and a typically masculine narrative of exploration. I wanted my boats to engage with the sublime but in a more subtle and personal way.
The figures depicted are females engaged in tasks related to their vessel. It's unclear whether she is setting sail, arriving home, rescuing someone or rescuing herself or others. There are ideas of home, migration, adventure and a duality on how we experience the ocean.
The inclusion of both leisure float rings and lifesaving buoyancy aids serves the same physical purpose – to stay afloat – but one relates to lifesaving and the other to leisure.
Collection
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