Notes

In line with her wonderfully imaginative pieces, Tamlin Blake presents a delightful artwork titled ‘Portrait with Yellow Flowers’. With fluid and delicate brushstrokes, the blue and red background contrasts with the yellow detail of the flowers reflecting gracefully near the face. The viewer experiences a myriad of thoughts and feelings, including of hope and despair. This pure and serene portrait gives us a glimpse into the imagination of a cerebral artist, known for examining ideas of wealth and status. The symbolism of the yellow flowers is understated and enigmatic, leaving us to wonder. Emotive and romantic as the portrait is, the notions of identity and belonging are evoked as the artist  explores these ideas with the utmost introspection. The contrasting colours of the work and the marriage of art and nature make for a fascinating depiction of emotion, indicative of the artists reverence for the individual and the sublime. A poignant tribute to a past self, this elegant self-portrait evokes feelings of optimism and idealism. The result is an ethereal work of transcendent beauty.

Lumkile Nkomfe