Sunshine (2020) Original Oil Painting by Mark Armstrong

Borrowing its title from the sardonic nickname used throughout Bronson, Sunshine explores the contradictions between identity, performance, and vulnerability. Taken from a scene in the film, the portrait isolates its subject from the surrounding narrative, transforming a cinematic moment into something quieter and more psychologically complex.

The figure confronts the viewer with an unwavering gaze, his expression poised somewhere between confidence and menace. His immaculate appearance—the sharp suit, sculpted moustache, and rigid posture—suggests a carefully constructed persona, one that conceals as much as it reveals. Behind him, the sparse interior offers few clues beyond a window and two anonymous wall lights, creating a space that feels simultaneously domestic, institutional, and theatrical.

The restrained palette and economical brushwork strip away unnecessary detail, allowing the tension of the portrait to emerge through expression and composition alone. The symmetry of the room reinforces the sense of control, while subtle variations in colour and texture hint at the instability beneath the surface.

Rather than celebrating the notorious character, Sunshine reflects on the masks we construct to survive. It asks where performance ends and identity begins, and whether strength is something we possess or something we repeatedly convince ourselves—and others—to believe. Like the nickname itself, the title carries a deliberate irony, softening the image while quietly exposing the fragility that exists beneath even the most intimidating exterior.

Materials used:

Oil on paper

Details:

• Oil painting on Paper
• One of a kind artwork
• Size: 42 x 29 x 1cm (unframed) / 42 x 29cm (actual image size)
• Signed on the front
• Style: Impressionistic
• Subject: People and portraits