Synopsis painting ‘black & White’

The Story Behind the Pattern

I’ve held onto this black-and-white pattern since my university days. Remarkably, I’ve managed to preserve it through numerous relocations over the past twenty years—a time when I lived in about thirty different homes. I remember one move in particular where I was in such a rush that I left a stack of art beneath my bed. At the time, I was grappling with high anxiety, and I couldn’t get a drawer open. Instead of fixing it, I just left everything behind. Looking back, it seems irrational, but it was a reflection of where I was at the time.

The Creative Journey

I needed a repeatable pattern that could be used with a photocopier to manage costs, yet remained versatile enough to look stunning when replicated across walls, tables, and floors. The design came to me effortlessly; the dancing figure was a recurring motif in my work—almost a personal ‘signature’.

The rest of the artwork was a blend of my deepest influences: the bold lines of Keith Haring, the intricate textures of Gustav Klimt, and the powerful forms of traditional African tribal masks.

Reflections on Rebellion

During my art education, I was instructed to create extensive bodies of work following one specific style. I felt this contradicted the animation-style figures I wanted to explore. Even then, I decided to challenge a system that prioritised “career prep” over genuine self-discovery and forming opinions. I was young and idealistic, resisting the norms imposed by the art world. I vowed then to experiment and evolve continually, rather than being boxed into one look.