SKIN

Skin is very funny stuff. Familiar, yet endlessly fascinating. There is nothing quite like its texture, luminosity or the subtle variations of colour that exist beneath its surface.

In 2017, Silk felt a desire to move away from the figure, yet found herself unable to leave the skin behind. From this fascination emerged Skin, a series of paintings that isolate fragments of the human body, transforming the familiar into something unexpectedly abstract.

Removed from their recognisable context, these fragments invite the viewer to wander through the image without immediately understanding what they are looking at.

Working within a restrained palette of creams, delicate pinks and subtle tonal shifts, Silk explored the luminous, almost translucent quality of skin. The softness of its surface, the delicate veins beneath it and the subtle interplay of colour presented an intriguing challenge.

While her intention was to celebrate the beauty and complexity of skin, these isolated forms sometimes provoked discomfort, revealing how differently the body can be perceived when removed from context.

Ultimately, Skin reflects Silk's enduring fascination with surface, colour in particular and perception, inviting viewers to look again at something so familiar and perhaps discover its beauty in an entirely new way.