Shine

ShineHamish says: "Using Jean Lon Grmes provocative A Roman Slave Market (c. 1884), I have taken the sensuous figure of the objectified woman and placed her in Londons West End. The array of neon signs clarifies which part of London we are in and the environment in which she finds herself. There is a classical look to her which presents a rich contrast with the brashness of her Soho surroundings and there is also a lightness to this painting, a humour

Hamish says: "Using Jean-Léon Gérôme’s provocative ‘A Roman Slave Market’ (c.1884), I have taken the sensuous figure of the objectified woman and placed her in London’s West End. The array of neon signs clarifies which part of London we are in and the environment in which she finds herself. There is a classical look to her which presents a rich contrast with the brashness of her Soho surroundings and there is also a lightness to this painting, a humour which offsets the deeper themes - the ‘Bada Bing’ sign and Mickey Mouse with his tongue hanging out. Yes, much like the many signs that surround her, she shines! This collection, looking at social media vanity, could not be better supported by this image of exhibitionism, the woman in my painting is a priestess, a beautiful siren who knows exactly what she is doing and why she is doing it."