This painting marks the beginning of a new series exploring the relationship between time, ancestry, and identity. Before becoming a full-time artist, I worked for over a decade as a geologist. In geology, you develop a profound understanding of time, where layers of rock tell stories that stretch back millions of years.
Here, the portrait has accumulations of sedimentary strata, symbolizing how we too are built layer upon layer. Just as landscapes are shaped by countless deposits over time, our identities are formed through the slow accumulation of traits inherited from an unbroken chain of ancestors. Every feature, every instinct, every fragment of personality is a deposit from those who came before us.
With her eyes closed the figure embodies stillness and reflection, reminding us that we too are a living archive of deep time.
Acrylic on canvas
Dimensions: 140 x 100 x 4.5 cm (55 x 39 x 1.8 inches)
