Matthew David Blackburn created an epic, ultra-realistic painting that won him a big milestone in his career! His message behind it is green, powerful and home-hitting:
Johannesburg, South Africa (28 September 2023) — You’d be forgiven for thinking that artist Matthew David Blackburn’s painting is a photograph. His ultra-realistic work has a way of putting things into perspective when it comes to our very real lives and futures; making the call to action for the environment even more powerful.
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It’s no surprise then that Blackburn was one of the Merit winners of the 2023 Sasol New Signatures. His acrylic painting, ‘Suffocation’, has a unique way of portraying plastic’s harmful effect on the planet by surrounding precious, green life in the form of a forest floor. Its 3D illusion on a 2D surface and strategically cut board makes the message even more striking and home-hitting.
Another dose of realism for Blackburn is that of a dream coming true. It’s his third time entering the competition and being at the winners’ table could change the trajectory of his career with financial aid and exposure.
“I was overjoyed, I couldn’t feel my cheeks from smiling so hard,” Blackburn recalls of his moment receiving the news.
This after a lot of dedication, setbacks and even quitting his job to pursue a career in art.
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Once Homeless Himself, Ramees is Now Using His Skills to Help Those on the Same Difficult Path“Throughout my life I have always had artistic abilities, when I was younger I was always seen as the kid who could draw. In high school I took art as a subject and started to experiment with different mediums, mainly chalk pastels, which initially paved the way for my painting style.
“After school I was unfortunately not accepted to study at university and I went straight into the working world. I had a number of different jobs, but none of them fulfilled me. In 2019 I began to paint again and found my passion. in 2020 I resigned from my job and dived right into being a full time artist.
“My work was picked up by the Rust en Vrede Gallery and since then I have had multiple group exhibitions and taken part in a number of competitions. Learning and improving along the way, ultimately leading up to this competition.”
Of his painting and the collection ‘Decay’ of which it falls part, Blackburn shares that the big message is about changing our position as a species who suffocate the planet so those that nurture it.
“The black bag on the painting has engulfed a forest floor, this is a representation of how plastics are damaging our planet and inevitably suffocating those who inhabit it. I want to bring awareness and change to these issues.”
Blackburn adds that when he paints, he paints with purpose, and ‘Decay’ is a call to action against greed, making us consider what it really costs us.
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