WE’RE JUST KIDS

A painting of a young girl with dark hair making a distressed facial expression.

Close-up of a smiling woman with black hair, closed eyes, slightly open mouth showing teeth, and flushed cheeks.

93 x 125cm

Oil paint on canvas

Olive oil is often used to anoint children. I used it as a solvent for oil paint to preserve a glowy sheen even after drying to demonstrate a child untainted from the complexities of humankind both visually and symbolically. The large scale intimidates and confronts as the sudden reorientation from familiar comfort to shocking discomfort makes it hard to ignore the girl’s perplexed feelings. The viewer empathises with the child and is emotionally attuned to the child’s display of emotions.