oil on linen

Size: 76x 120 x 3cm

Divination is a charged exploration of psychological and cultural tension in the contemporary moment. In this painting, space itself feels unstable and torn, framed by gnarled, root-like forms that suggest both the complexity of the human psyche and the tangled networks of collective belief. Within this dynamic field, two ravens circle above and around a central figure whose identity remains ambiguous. The ravens act as symbolic agents—harbingers of mystery and intermediaries between the seen and unseen—inviting the viewer to confront uncertainty, fear, and the unknown within the self and in society. 

The central figure’s deliberate ambiguity challenges fixed notions of “otherness.” Rather than presenting a fixed identity, the work uses form and costume to unsettle easy interpretation, compelling us to reflect on how fear and anxiety shape our perceptions of individuals and groups. The surrounding environment, where roots and voids interweave with slashes of negative space, evokes the inner workings of consciousness and the cultural forces that pull and push at our sense of self. 

Formally, Divination balances slick, glossy surfaces with matte, gestural brushwork, creating a visual tension that mirrors its conceptual concerns. The interplay of light and shadow, figure and ground, produces a compelling, almost ritualistic atmosphere that positions the viewer within a liminal moment of interpretation—between interpretation and misinterpretation, visibility and obscurity.