[suit.a.ble] Sweet Home Alatracksuit
In this resplendent and highly metaphorical family portrait, the canvas becomes a stage for a symphony of musical prowess that urges artistic expression as a vehicle to deepen familial harmony. Against the cloud-cloaked backdrop of mountains, bathed in the warm glow of a picturesque bonfire, four figures furnished in tracksuits converge in a celebration of nonconformity. The viewer is compelled to evaluate the meaning of each archetypal figure and the meaning of life itself as a performance set before the totalizing expanse of the universe. Their unsubtle descant, inextricably interwoven into their melody, is a hymn set before Pulpit Rock that urges creative apostasy and elevates art into a divine pursuit.
At the centre, the matriarch assumes a stance of confident protest as she unleashes her vocal prowess into the night sky. Harnessing the transcendent power of music, she outstretches her hand to urge the viewer to cast off the toxic narratives that stifle full expressions of beauty, creativity and joy. Finding one’s voice is shown as a transcendent act of courage against the mundane and monotone.
The patriarch supplements the siren’s serenade, standing between rocks that symbolize the mythological Scylla and Carybdis—the opposing binaries of posttruth meaninglessness versus totalizing hegemonies. Conjuring a melody that resonates with the spirit of the surrounding wilderness and the very souls of the viewers, he beckons humanity to sail the seas between the hazards and live a full, balanced life.
Beside the couple, the younger generation stands in complementary harmony, their backs pressed together as they wield instruments that represent youthful exuberance—energy, fearlessness, and originality. Each, they represent rhythmic resonance, their individuality yet deliberate synchronicity is a testament to the unbreakable bonds of siblingly love and the journey before them.
Through its graphicly transcendent symbolism, this portrait invites the viewer to immerse themselves in their own vibrational spaces. We are asked to find solace and inspiration amidst the natural world to ultimately find resolution to our dissonance within. The mellifluous invocation of this family calls us all to unpack our own familial, societal and spiritual narratives to find our own version of harmony amongst the discord.
Thanks to Cam Whitehead for the very suitable writing
This photograph is one of 10 images produced for the [suit.a.ble] photo exhibition on March 2nd. If you would like to read about the exhibition itself CLICK HERE