BLOWING UP THEIR COVER STORIES, 2024

"Blowing Up Their Cover Stories" is a modular triptych that delves into the intertwined narratives of language, symbolism, and the intersection between creation and destruction. The artwork reflects on the delicate balance between beauty and viole...

"Blowing Up Their Cover Stories" is a modular triptych that delves into the intertwined narratives of language, symbolism, and the intersection between creation and destruction. The artwork reflects on the delicate balance between beauty and violence, revealing the foundational aspects of the painting process. Through gradual transitions from sketch to underpainting to fully rendered forms, the piece captures evolving narratives, where destruction and transformation highlight the visual similarities inherent in both creation and disintegration. Featuring a hand grenade, a pomegranate, and a pineapple, the triptych underscores the surprising connections between these objects through their linguistic roots and visual resemblances. A 3D replica of a WWII Mk 2 "Pineapple" hand grenade is integrated into the artwork, mirrored by an exploding pineapple and a bruised pomegranate, alluding to the French term "pomme grenade," meaning "apple with seeds." The title, "Blowing Up Their Cover Stories," plays on the idea of unveiling hidden truths, much like the linguistic origins of the word "grenade," which reveals the imagery that inspired its naming. The triptych further examines the interplay between two-dimensional and three-dimensional elements, challenging traditional boundaries of painting. The layering of forms, composition, and materials symbolizes the evolution of ideas—from conceptual sketches to fully realized works—while simultaneously evoking a sense of both creation and destruction. The integration of 2D and 3D elements, along with the visible artistic process, underscores the complexity of creation, both in art and in the narratives we construct.