Stay on the case.
I have been lucky enough with this project to find plenty of bang on context, with many major contemporary artists dealing with the same issues or working in a similar way.
British-Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare addressed homelessness with his 2012 work “Crisis Man”. His aim was to awaken some “empathy in those who have for those who do not… There is always a possibility your wealthy world could come crashing down at any time.”
Shonibare was an obvious contextual reference for me after having the thought of using an antique suitcase as an integral part of a portrait of a man who had become homeless through addiction.
The suitcase has very obvious links to homelessness. Having something to keep a small amount of possessions in and to be ready and able to move on at very short notice. Only the suitcase, in this case, is no help or solution to the homeless persons chronic lack of mobility in their situation.
The homeless are often caught in a trap of not being able to get away from their environment and the problems that put them in their situation.
I decided to paint this mans portrait not on the outside of a closed suitcase, but on the inside of a suitcase flapping open. You may want to get away, but you cannot travel or move on with your suitcase hanging open. With the suitcase loading the work with meaning the painting itself needed to be kept as simple as possible.
I painted with one single tone leaving the patterned suitcase lining to show through, giving what I believe is a nice visual effect, he is there but not entirely, just what I hoped for.
In titling this piece I used something the man said when interviewed.
“ I don’t run fast enough”.
The man obviously did not mean he could not physically run fast enough, but that he could never get away from the problems that continually impacted upon his life. He summed up in very simple terms a certain aspect of himself and provided me with a pertinent title.
