"Sagan II/II: made by starstuff"

Oil on Canvas

70x100 cm

In the second work of "paraphrasing Sagan", a vacuum is defined by starstuff as a silhouette of a man. Imagine that "nothing" can still become "something" simply by being inferred from something "something" around it? In this case, the man in the painting is not made of starstuff, but rather by it. One could argue that some specific human traits have resemblance to this phenomenon. 

For the original piece (not represented in prints): when the painting is viewed in ambient light, the painting appears 2-dimensional as the black paint absorbs so much light. However, when the painting is viewed in bright light, the relief hidden within the black void can be discerned and facial features are revealed. When the painting is viewed in darkness, a different pattern takes shape. The form is intentionally ambiguous elicit projective responses. As the observer project their own inner thoughts, feelings, and unconscious processes onto the image they don't see the image - they see themselves.