Ancient Whispers

A surreal and richly symbolic painting, executed in oil onto canvas and dated 1991.

The painting presents an enigmatic architectural interior scene that feels suspended between the past and the surreal. At the lower left lies a creature with piercing blue eyes, emerging and integrated into the patterned textile ground. Scattered elements including a large clay pot, transparent orbs, and an engraved oval tablet evoke archaeological relics, rituals, and memory.

Rendered in a meticulous, linear texture, the architectural backdrop features soft arches and doorways. The entire composition is enclosed within a dominant arch motif, adding a quiet rhythm and continuity. The colour palette blends warm earth tones – terracotta and sandy neutrals  – offset with accents of blue and silver-grey.

The brushwork is tight and deliberate, with fine lines etched almost like woven threads, giving the surface a tapestry-like quality. The result is a layered and contemplative piece that blurs the boundaries between memory, myth, and architecture.

This oil on canvas is housed in a complementary frame. The painting has a very small area of paint loss (as shown), but the paint layer is very stable overall. The frame has minor scuffing.

Size: 68 x 68 cm (including frame)