This brand new composition by Andrew Hunt documents his recent time spent in New York. In 'The Fifth Prophet', a street prophet stands in the centre, surrounded by the lavish department stores on Fifth Avenue, the financial centre of this iconic city.
- Media: framed oil on canvas
- Dimensions: 61 x 76cm
- Price: £3200.00
Amidst a palette of gloomy greys and garish red stripes, this brand new composition by Andrew Hunt documents his recent time spent in New York. In 'The Fifth Prophet', a street prophet stands in the centre, surrounded by the lavish department stores on Fifth Avenue, the financial centre of the iconic city. A story of New York, and the stark contrasts within it, this gritty character represents what lies beneath the fabricated, consumer-driven nature of America. Clad in worn, aged clothing and with only a sign to his name, the street prophet is a recurring theme within Hunt's works, and is used as a way of highlighting the disparities within a place - particularly New York. America is seen as the land of the free, the 'Mecca' of western society - yet there are dark truths beneath the surface. An anecdotal painting - it undoubtedly tells a narrative, and displays a visceral element of a hard truth, which are common themes throughout Hunt's oeuvre. “You’ve got this personification of something that sits beneath the fabric of America – under the glitz and glamor” There are element of both humour and pathos to this piece - it tells a visceral story of America, displaying both the poverty and the wealth side by side. 'The Fifth Prophet' demonstrates Hunt's extraordinary role as a storyteller, and his imagination as an artist. With a creative background in book illustration, telling stories has become a pivotal part of Hunt's practice; like a playwright, he often invents his own characters, bringing them to life on canvas. In this case, the street prophet tells us a story about New York, and we are left yearning to know more about the fate of this unique character. Hunt often prefers painting older characters; with age comes more experiences, and more of a story to tell. Although humorous, Hunt has a way of observing human activity and portraying people with total dignity and sincerity - we do not at once question his integrity or his intentions, we know he handles his subjects with care and respect. This thought-provoking composition would make a bold and gritty addition to any contemporary art collection, business space, or home.
Other images of The Fifth Prophet by Andrew Hunt