Rise belongs to a period of experimentation and discovery within my practice, when I was actively searching for a visual language that felt authentic to me.

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The painting was begun in 2017 during the early stages of developing what would eventually become my signature style. At the time, I found myself drawn to a much softer and more muted palette, intentionally reducing the intensity of colour in order to focus on atmosphere, shape, texture, and light.

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Unlike most of my works, however, Rise remained unfinished for several years. It sat quietly in my studio as I continued developing my practice, only to be revisited and completed in 2020.

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Looking back, I find something fitting about that process. The painting belongs to one chapter of my artistic journey, yet carries the perspective of another. It was created during a period of searching, but completed with a greater sense of clarity about where that search was leading.

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Its unusual triangular form naturally creates a sense of upward movement, which feels reflected in the title as well. For me, Rise serves as a reminder of those formative years spent pursuing a vision that was still taking shape; trusting what I could feel long before I could fully articulate it.