Floating in the centre of this deeply black painting, a disembodied head drained of colour, and with indistinct edges, struggles to emerge. The eyes are closed suggesting its focus is inward, perhaps engrossed in a darkness of its own making.

Alfie Rouy explores subtle ways of materialising the flow of versatile, fluid-like energies ranging from a romanticised and nostalgic view of the mystery of the Dark Ages combined with ancient Eastern philosophies and the Hermetica. His paintings are visualised by confined yet free-flowing forms through figurative imagery, with the intention to depict reality in an elusive and non-realistic way. He uses his subconscious as much as possible to create his own visual and alchemic symbolism without conscious decision.

The canvas is painted with both acrylic and oil.

Alfie Rouy (b. 1998, Sittingbourne, Kent, UK) graduated BA Painting University of the Arts Camberwell, London (2019-2021). His solo exhibitions include the Platform - Unit London (Online, 2021) and A Fingers Click of Time, The Artist Contemporary (Online, 2021). Selected group exhibitions include: Dark Roots, Liliya Art Gallery, London (2022); Wish Lush, Kravitz Contemporary, London (2022); A Short While After, Changing Room Gallery, London (2022); Front Room Show II,

D-Contemporary, London 2022; Love is the Devil, Marlborough Gallery, London (2022); The Reality in Whych you Create, Studio West, London (2022); Port of Call, Changing Room Gallery, London (2021); Tree and Leaf, Hannah Barry Gallery, London (2021); Hopscotch, Safehouse One, London (2021) and Caught in the Cave, Kupfer Projects 213, London (2021).