My current practice centres around the effect of violence and subsequent death on the human body. I explore this theme by looking to American or French crime scene photographs taken during the early 20th century by detectives as a method of documenting evidence following murders. I have been focusing primarily on the more visceral, gory and violent aspects of this area of study, such as open wounds, bruising, and severing of body parts. I use crime scene photographs from this era as they have have been taken using photography techniques like using wide-angle lenses and overhead tripods which give an almost cinematic composition to them that is reminiscent of noir films, despite their documentary purpose. I work exclusively with black and white images as I have found them effective to paint to convey the depth and physicality of the bodies shown.

I portray these subjects through the method of painting, specifically using acrylic. I’m currently exploring the relationship between meticulous replication of the photograph in black and white and quick, violent gesture using large brush marks and bright, garish colours.  I’ve been interested in this relationship between the slow, long process of painting the figure and how this is put at risk by the fast, uncontrolled brush mark that is completed with little consideration to the effect it will potentially have on this figure it is interacting with. I’ve also noticed the underlying comparison that can be made between these processes and the drawn-out process of life versus the quick, violent death that has befallen those in the images that I’m reproducing in my works.