The Unseen

The Unseen started with a fashion show in London.

I had been struck by the variety of elegant outfits and the individuality of the fashion on the catwalk. I liked the idea of taking some of that feeling of elegance and bringing it into a painting, but I didn't want it to become a straightforward fashion portrait.

Instead, I became interested in the mystery of the figure — the way an outfit can say something about a person while still leaving plenty hidden.

The delicate feminine features of the character became an important part of the painting, but so did the contrast with the bold colours surrounding her. I wanted that combination of elegance and mystery to come through, and one of the things that surprised me most was just how well the strong colours worked together.

Looking at it now, that contrast is probably what I enjoy most about The Unseen. There is something elegant about the figure, something mysterious about what is concealed, and then the colours arrive and refuse to be quiet.

I like paintings that don't give you every answer. You can look at this figure and wonder who she is, what she's thinking, or why her face is hidden. You can simply enjoy the colour and composition, or make up your own story.

For me, The Unseen is really about that meeting point between elegance, mystery and bold colour.

I hope the painting catches you a little off guard too — that you notice the colours first, then the figure, and perhaps find yourself looking again.

Dimensions: 60 × 60 × 5 cm
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Signed: By Hoza