Reflection

Solitary figures are the primary subject, and the focus is on the face and especially the eyes as a vehicle for communication and expression. However, the figurative works cannot be described as simple portraiture. They tell a story, and a complex one at that, with meaning coded through multiple layers. In the first instance, the figure itself may be a reference to, or representation of, a specific individual, real or imagined: sportsmen, film and TV characters and musicians all appear in different works. At the same time, the figures may represent of a facet of himself- his feelings in the moment of painting, his personal interests and history, with many wearing his gold tooth. The works also move beyond individual representation to tell collective stories. Black culture and history in London and New York, working class culture and history in East London, are all coded into his paintings. These subjects are multi-faceted and intersectional, and provide a way for the artist to resist essentialism in his observation of and representation of identity. References to music, film and poetry are woven in by means of the figures’ clothing, in the titles, and on occasion through the inclusion of text within the image.

For information about this work e-mail: info@stephenanthonydavids.com

MediumOil on Linen.Size140cm x 140cm x 2.5cm (Deep)Year2023