the ‘other’ series (2021-2023)

Created between 2021 and 2023, this extensive body of work explores the fear of the unknown and the perceived differences that divide society. Functioning as a precursor to my current practice, these paintings use order, repetition, and cinematic abstraction as distancing mechanisms to process feelings of powerlessness in the face of uncontrollable external forces.

The recurring motif of the UFO operates not as a literal threat, but as a metaphor for 'the Other'. Drawing on 1950s sightings, the atmospheric, nocturnal landscapes evoke a sense of nostalgic wonder heavily influenced by the cinematic suspense of David Lynch. The work questions our inherent biases, asking who is truly observing whom. As the series progressed, the focus expanded from metaphysical alienation toward specific ecological anxieties. Works such as The Harvest and The Happening, inspired by the shrinking, toxic landscape of the Salton Sea in California, visualise the conflict between human control and the dissolving power of the environment.

Over the course of two years, the aesthetic development of the work—moving from figurative oils on paper toward large-scale linen canvases—laid the foundation for the open emblems and systemic critiques of my current practice.