This dramatic composition by Andrew Hunt is the artist's own interpretation of Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden. A modern twist on an epochal tale, Hunt tells a story of his own childhood, imbued with nostalgia.
- Media: oil on canvas
- Price: SOLD
This dramatic composition by Andrew Hunt is the artist's own interpretation of Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden. A modern twist on an epochal tale, Hunt tells a story of his own childhood, imbued with nostalgic imagery. A self portrait of sorts, 'Eden' portrays elements of Hunt's own childhood memories growing up in North Wales in the 1970s and 1980s. A row of 1960s council housing looms in the distance of the playing fields, as a red Ford Cortina occupies the centre. A boy and a girl stand on either side, naively adopting traditional, archaic gender roles, with a playful tone as we are reminded of their youth through bubbles and fairy wings. The boy stands stoic, a stick in hand, as though protecting his land, as the girl sits in the background, innocently blowing bubbles, looking away from our gaze. These visual symbols of childhood immediately provoke nostalgia, and bring a playful tone and colour palette to an otherwise dark and gloomy composition. The addition of the car creates a 'Kitchen Sink' grittiness which is prominent throughout Hunt's oeuvre, whilst the urinating dog fosters a humorous tone to the overall piece. “It’s the paradise of youth – which is my interpretation of what the garden of Eden is” Hunt's works have a way of telling a narrative, and of making mundane, everyday settings into works of fine art. Hunt is an experienced painter, which is evident in his vivid, photo-real depictions of people, and the compositional technicalities behind his work. Subtly bared edges remind us of the physicality and gravity of the paint on canvas, whilst paint drips contrast effectively to the photo-real style of the composition. Often taking inspiration from his surroundings and upbringing, his works portray everyday moments of humanity that we all recognise, imbued with both warmth and an honest grittiness. Hunt has a distinctive way of depicting both personal and collective memories, and imbuing them with life and narrative onto canvas. Hunt's role as a storyteller is evident through his works - with a creative background in book illustration, telling stories has become a pivotal part of his practice. Like a playwright, Hunt creates his own characters and brings them to life on canvas, inviting his viewer to apply their own narrative. Hunt has a way of observing human activity and portraying people in a way that is totally sincere - we do not at once question his integrity or his intentions, we know he handles his subjects with care and respect.