Seen and Unspoken
About the work
Seen and Unspoken began with the discomfort of witnessing cruelty, injustice and wrongdoing while wondering why so much of it passes without challenge. We see what is happening, yet silence can allow it to remain concealed in plain sight.
The eye-like form references the evil eye, traditionally understood as a symbol of harmful intention and protection against it. Within this painting, however, it also became the eye of the witness: alert to what is happening but unable, or unwilling, to speak. It is difficult to know whether the form is watching, being watched or confronting the viewer with their own position.
The surface is built from acrylic and silicone, with areas repeatedly layered, disrupted and partly obscured. Marks remain visible beneath later additions, while the central form appears to push through the surrounding darkness. This movement between concealment and exposure reflects the subject of the painting: wrongdoing may be covered over or left unspoken, but its presence does not disappear.
For me, the work holds the unease of recognising something that should not be ignored. It does not offer the reassurance of a passive protective symbol. Instead, it leaves a more difficult question: once something has been seen, what responsibility comes with remaining silent?
Artwork details
2026
Acrylic and silicone on canvas
60 × 60 cm