Colors and Shapes

Description

The artwork “Colours and Shapes” is inspired by the song of the same name by the late hip-hop artist Mac Miller, whose music has accompanied me since my youth. It is meant to encourage not to forget the colours of life in our often black-and-white everyday routines – to preserve a sense of childhood, imagination, and creativity.

The painting is divided into three clearly distinguishable sections:

Upper section:
In the top third, a colourful galaxy with planets and stars unfolds. It represents the fascination with the intangible, as particularly experienced by children – a sense of wonder, boundless imagination, and the freedom to create one’s own worlds.

Middle section:
Here begins a transitional phase – a period in life full of possibilities, curiosity, and change. Against a yellow background, surreal objects float – some clearly recognizable, others more abstract: an anchor, a heart, a plant, a wave. They symbolise stability, love, nature, and being overwhelmed. Some of these motifs are taken from the album cover “Faces“ by Mac Miller and have been reinterpreted.

At the centre of the painting, a surreal figure is seen in free fall – Mac Miller. His face dissolves downward from the mouth into an earthy mass, from which a diamond grows. The diamond symbolises his golden voice that made him famous. From the earth, a flower grows, with his eyes blooming from it – a sign of awareness, reflection, and continued presence. The face represents the cycle of life, with all its highs and lows. His shoes have wings – inspired by the song “Nikes on My Feet”. The wings symbolise flight, and perhaps also letting go after his death.

On the left side of the image, there is a melting, organically shaped clock – a reference to Salvador Dalí’s “The Persistence of Memory”. It stands for the passing of time and the limitations of life. A mosquito sits on the clock, sucking its “blood” – a sign of transience.

Lower section:
In the lower third, the painting shifts toward realism. A black-and-white, curved cloth represents the rational, structured everyday life in which one can easily lose their way. A tyre is rolling toward the viewer and symbolises the pressure of daily life. The owl, with its fixed and penetrating gaze, reinforces the feeling of being watched and controlled.

Final thought:
“Colours and Shapes” is an invitation to preserve the joy of life despite all challenges, rules, and constraints. It is a reminder that creativity, colour, and imagination are essential parts of a fulfilled existence – and that we should enjoy every moment we have in our short lifetime.

Technical Information

Technique: Oil on canvas

Art style: surrealism, realism, portrait

Size (H x W, in cm): 80 x 70

Painting time: 42 hours

Date of completion: 11. October 2024