Looking From This Side (2023)Acrylic painting
by Emmanuel Akolo

Looking From the Side is a poignant study of unwavering devotion and the longing for escape from a reality defined by sorrow. The portrait, rendered in warm, sun-drenched tones, captures a figure in profile set against a lush, verdant background of energetic greens. While the subject's gaze remains fixed on an unseen companion, the work explores the profound psychological commitment of staying by someone’s side through their darkest hours. It serves as a visual representation of a shared promise—a vow to offer a sanctuary of happiness and flight, even when that sanctuary exists only within the fragile boundaries of a dream.

The painting's high-contrast lighting and vibrant palette create a sense of internal vitality that pushes against the "terrible place" mentioned in the accompanying narrative. The focus on the elegant, elongated lines of the neck and the steady, expectant expression reflects both vulnerability and a radical readiness to "brace for the fall" alongside another. Ultimately, Looking From the Side is a testament to the tragic beauty of absolute solidarity, honoring the courageous, if painful, choice to remain present and lost in the happiness of a collective bond, regardless of the cost.

Materials used:

Acrylic On Canvas

Details:

• Acrylic painting on Canvas
• One of a kind artwork
• Size: 48.26 x 60.96 x 2.54cm (unframed) / 48.26 x 60.96cm (actual image size)
• Signed on the front
• Style: Impressionistic
• Subject: People and portraits

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