Hong Kong-based British artist Simon Birch creates beautifully expressive full-body portraits of people in motion. His smeared paintings capture the energetic beauty of movement, giving an artistic rendition of motion that is both elegant and powerful. Each portrait in Birch’s collection offers a sense of realism that also includes creative liberties to draw the eye and keep the viewer’s gaze wandering across the frame.
The striking paintings are melodic and captivating, drawing an emotional response from the viewer. Through the blurred movements, one can make out the clenched fists, swift leaps, and a sense of falling. There is a simultaneous feeling of restraint and freedom expressed through the gestures of many of the figurative subjects. They seem to be amidst a mental and physical battle, on the verge of exploding into an emotionally-charged dance.
Simon Birch website
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