©Glorious Freedom (2021) By CLT_Abstracts, 1/1
Mixed media on reclaimed canvas, 48cm x 48cm/ 19” x 19”
In this piece I wanted to move into a more representational aesthetic after being inspired by the strong women in the Black Lives Matter movement.
As a white, English person, and coming from Cornwall, I wasn’t educated on many race issues whilst in school. Though as I grew up I idolised many black musicians and I still love gospel choirs and genres like blues and soul. I started singing at a young age and noticed the difference in the vocal qualities of black singers compared to my voice. Not just because I wasn’t accomplished but their tone was always richer. From that discovery, I always felt like black people had a magic that white people like me will never have and I wanted to protect them so they could share that magic with more of the world.
I know how naive and silly that sounds and via my Buddhist practice over the last 10 years I have come to realise that every person has magic within them and it doesn’t matter what shade your skin is.
Through the race protests and issues in the wider world, I have come to understand more about the wider implication of white privilege and I wanted to echo that in this piece. So as I was painting this piece, I wanted to put myself in the shoes of a black woman and let her be heard. Not only does self expression mean everything to me, but being heard, understood and taken seriously is of utmost importance to me. I believe every person, regardless of specifics, should be given the same chance in life and I’d like to offer a platform to do that.
Mixed media on reclaimed canvas, 48cm x 48cm/ 19” x 19”
In this piece I wanted to move into a more representational aesthetic after being inspired by the strong women in the Black Lives Matter movement.
As a white, English person, and coming from Cornwall, I wasn’t educated on many race issues whilst in school. Though as I grew up I idolised many black musicians and I still love gospel choirs and genres like blues and soul. I started singing at a young age and noticed the difference in the vocal qualities of black singers compared to my voice. Not just because I wasn’t accomplished but their tone was always richer. From that discovery, I always felt like black people had a magic that white people like me will never have and I wanted to protect them so they could share that magic with more of the world.
I know how naive and silly that sounds and via my Buddhist practice over the last 10 years I have come to realise that every person has magic within them and it doesn’t matter what shade your skin is.
Through the race protests and issues in the wider world, I have come to understand more about the wider implication of white privilege and I wanted to echo that in this piece. So as I was painting this piece, I wanted to put myself in the shoes of a black woman and let her be heard. Not only does self expression mean everything to me, but being heard, understood and taken seriously is of utmost importance to me. I believe every person, regardless of specifics, should be given the same chance in life and I’d like to offer a platform to do that.
Mixed media on reclaimed canvas, 48cm x 48cm/ 19” x 19”
In this piece I wanted to move into a more representational aesthetic after being inspired by the strong women in the Black Lives Matter movement.
As a white, English person, and coming from Cornwall, I wasn’t educated on many race issues whilst in school. Though as I grew up I idolised many black musicians and I still love gospel choirs and genres like blues and soul. I started singing at a young age and noticed the difference in the vocal qualities of black singers compared to my voice. Not just because I wasn’t accomplished but their tone was always richer. From that discovery, I always felt like black people had a magic that white people like me will never have and I wanted to protect them so they could share that magic with more of the world.
I know how naive and silly that sounds and via my Buddhist practice over the last 10 years I have come to realise that every person has magic within them and it doesn’t matter what shade your skin is.
Through the race protests and issues in the wider world, I have come to understand more about the wider implication of white privilege and I wanted to echo that in this piece. So as I was painting this piece, I wanted to put myself in the shoes of a black woman and let her be heard. Not only does self expression mean everything to me, but being heard, understood and taken seriously is of utmost importance to me. I believe every person, regardless of specifics, should be given the same chance in life and I’d like to offer a platform to do that.
