Bloom is my latest print release, created in collaboration with Rhodes Editions and launching alongside my upcoming exhibition at Rhodes Gallery, Provence. This piece is particularly meaningful to me because it bridges the past and present, weaving together my early encounters with Van Gogh’s art and my current exploration of his influence.
As a child, I was mesmerised by Van Gogh’s Sunflowers at the National Gallery in London. I can still remember sitting there with a yellow pencil, sharpening it over and over as I tried to capture the energy of those blooms. It was my introduction to the world of art, and that feeling of wonder has never faded. Bloom is my way of paying homage to that memory, but also reimagining it.
In Bloom, I’ve integrated the full text of a letter Van Gogh wrote to his brother Theo, dated 9th September 1888. In this letter, Van Gogh talks about decorating his home in Arles, planning to fill the walls with paintings of large yellow sunflowers. He writes with such warmth and care, imagining how his space would be shared with others. His words aren’t just about the paintings—they’re about creating a place filled with light, art, and connection. Here’s a passage from the letter:
"The room you’ll stay in then, or which will be Gauguin’s if Gauguin comes, will be hung with paintings of large yellow sunflowers on its white walls... You’ll see these big paintings of bouquets of 12 or 14 sunflowers stuffed into this little boudoir with a pretty bed and everything else elegantly done. It will be special."
My approach to Bloom isn’t simply to replicate Van Gogh’s sunflowers, but to take his original vision and build upon it. By incorporating the letter into the piece, I want to invite viewers to experience Van Gogh’s work from a new angle. It’s about more than just the image of the sunflowers—it’s about understanding the man behind them, his thoughts, and the world he was trying to create.
This print stands as both an homage and a reinterpretation, much like the rest of the Provence exhibition. In my work, I aim to break down the familiar compositions of Van Gogh’s paintings and reassemble them in a way that adds abstraction and modernity, while still holding on to the emotional core of the originals. With Bloom, it’s about creating a dialogue between past and present, between Van Gogh’s vision and my own interpretation.
As a final touch, I’ve decided to sign this edition of the print in blue—a little nod to the shade Van Gogh used when signing his own paintings, adding a personal connection to the master himself.
I’m excited to announce that Bloom will be available on the dedicated Rhodes Editions drop-site on 26th September at 4pm (BST). I’m looking forward to sharing this piece with you as part of Provence at Rhodes Gallery. It’s a journey through memory, art, and inspiration, and I hope it invites you to see Van Gogh—and my work—through a fresh lens.
BLOOM, 2024
Giclée with Screenprinted Varnish Overlay on Arches 88 310gsm
Signed, Dated and Numbered in Blue Pencil by the Artist
With the Artist's and Rhodes Editions Blindstamp
Hand-torn Deckled Edge
78 x 60 cm
30 3/4 x 23 5/8 in
Edition of 99
£ 800.00