Bread, Birds, Blocks

Bread, Birds, Blocks" was awarded the Margate Art Prize by Dame Tracey Emin DBE RA. The oil painting presents the wholesome act of a teenager feeding bread from an implicitly painted Hovis bag to a bevy of swans and a Canadian goose. The location of this piece is set in the "revolutionary" and "utopian" housing estate in Thamesmead, London, which is currently under regeneration. This painting explores themes of value, materialism, and authenticity. This is represented through subtle symbolisms of the Canada goose coat/bird to the offering of bread. The Canada Goose brand is associated with wealth, this juxtaposes the simple act of feeding bread to the swans and non-native bird. The bread is a modest offering connecting human to animal, there are monetary associations considering the basic yet essential role in everyday life. The grey colour palette of the background not only represents the dreary atmosphere our notorious weather creates but highlights the ethereal hues of the subject's skin. The 80x60 cm metaphorical portal provides access to my reality.