Umbrella Riot

Original painting
Oil on Board

£1000 (Framed with a simple, matt black frame)

I painted this during the pandemic between 2020-22,  using a glow around the edges of the flowers - radiating light and energy, remembering bright neon lights of major cities around the world. I was also experimenting with  'chromatic blacks' - mixtures of dark colours like ultramarine blue and burnt sienna, or using contrasting colours like magenta and viridian. The amount of beautiful colours that can result from this combination is infinite.

Meanwhile, pro-democracy demonstrations resurfaced in Hong Kong, and were a continuation of the 'Umbrella Movement' that began in 2014. Protesters used umbrellas to shield themselves from tear gas and pepper spray deployed by police.

The image reflected in the vase was a response to events I was seeing on the news.  The protests during the pandemic were sparked by a proposed extradition bill that would have allowed individuals to be extradited to mainland China for trial.

The use of umbrellas as a symbol of resistance against government suppression has resonated beyond Hong Kong's borders. The imagery of umbrellas as a tool of protection and defiance became associated with pro-democracy movements globally, especially in areas facing similar struggles for civil liberties and political freedoms.