Hawk Deh Near (series)
Acrylic and oil on paper
2025
This 2025 series navigates a space between psychedelia and abstract symbolism. Its minimal materiality nods to the so-called “poor” aesthetic of Bram van Velde, a key influence, whose economy of means and raw visual presence deeply resonate with my own search for expressive clarity.
Taking its name from the Jamaican proverb “Chicken merry, hawk deh near”, a phrase that blends wit with quiet warning, the series plays at the edge of celebration and threat, presence and absence. In both method and spirit, these paintings reflect a pursuit of freedom: a practice of working without self-judgment, allowing gesture, texture, and intuition to take the lead.
A companion album by MT Gemini will be released on the Vlek label (Brussels) in early 2026, offering sonic explorations guided by the same themes and ethos.
