April 30, 2020
Augustin Holder
This painting represents the anxiety, vulnerability and fear as the news of the Covid-19 Pandemic was eminent. It was surreal; like a midnight marauder it maneuvered with stealth, avoiding the radar, descending at our shoreline and doorstep waiting to raise havoc upon us all.
I am going to open with this mantra ‘art transcends and enriches our lives.’
I chose to express my vulnerability by painting; it’s the best medium that I use to express my subconscious. This process allows me to bring my thoughts into the conscious thus giving it life.
The use of bold strokes defined in black, blue and red represents the uncertainty and fear I felt.
Creating fluidity and motion was important to the composition; by using long singular brush strokes it created that image on the canvas.
The sense of chaos in the composition is further heightened by my using black vertical strokes shimmering down the canvas amidst the white silhouette in the background.
At the same time, in the background of the painting, the hints of white represent conflict: Good vs. Evil. It was a chilling factor in the overall painting.
I am going to add another anecdote; if you look closely in this painting there is a silhouette of a character. He is called ‘Mr. Nocturnal.’ This man is sometimes identified as a phantom or desperado, as one might think, but he is the beacon of light and hope.
Global Entry. Acrylic on Canvas. Augustin Holder. 2020.
Augustin Holder works at the Office of the Lt. Governor, USVI as an administrative aide. He is also a Board Member of Sevenminusseven/Alternative Art Alliance.
