The Struggle with Darkness

The Struggle with Darkness creates an optical reenactment of the way colour and light struggle to escape the velvety embrace of deep red roses. At first sight, all that is perceived is a black circle. It is only after the viewer’s eyes adjust to the light that the subtle reds and greens start to float into perception, filling out the story of the struggle.

This series was instigated when a friend gave me five beautiful, deep red roses; I became so entranced by the way the colour and light of the flower seemed to be battling with the bloom’s velvety darkness that I had to try and tell its story. Perhaps these works may serve as a playful cautionary tale of what can happen when you give an artist flowers!