ABOUT THE WORK

The art of visual artist John Marin explores the process of introspection as a means of understanding the contemporary human condition. Darkness is a common theme throughout Marin’s works, often taking the form of inky and surreal blobs of black space amidst a neutral background. Yet Marin’s use of black does not carry with it the color’s usual connotations, instead the artist’s uniquely inventive treatment invites one to contemplate and reflect on one’s relationship with both the piece and themselves. This 2016 oil on canvas piece is a pre-eminent example of Marin’s monochromatic figurative style. Marin’s central figure takes the form of a cherub with its appendages posed in such a way that implies its awareness of the viewer itself. In place of its face is alluringly black void speckled with flecks of white paint, mimicking the vast expanse of outer space. It is this synthesis of metaphysical imagery and monochromatic tones that gives Marin’s piece its meditative allure; inviting the viewer to enter and share its inner world.