How an abstract figure emerged from silence, light, and the fragile geometry of time
“Fragmented Icon” was created during a period when I longed for a different kind of silence — not the external one, but the inner quiet that feels almost cosmic, a pause in which everything becomes clearer. I approached the canvas without a fixed idea, only with the desire to capture that moment when thoughts dissolve and only presence remains.
When the Figure First Emerged
The first element to appear was the shape of a head — not a traditional portrait, but a suggestion of a figure somewhere between light and color. Then a single eye emerged, holding its own small universe.
At that time, the painting still carried its earlier working title, “In the Space of Time,” because the figure felt suspended between moments, in a place where time stretches and folds.
A Turning Point in the Process
A turning point came when I introduced a pearlescent, mother-of-pearl paint.
I added it instinctively — I wanted to create a subtle inner glow:
- luminous
- soft
- slightly otherworldly
This shimmering layer formed a contrast with the deep indigo and vibrant reds. It became a kind of inner light, suggesting that the figure contains a universe within itself.
Light, Reflection, and Identity
When the light hits the surface at certain angles, the pearlescent areas begin to glow gently — not sharply, but as if the painting itself is breathing.
This effect cannot be fully captured in photographs; it can only be felt when standing before the work.
It mirrors how I perceive human identity:
a layered, fragile, luminous reflection of what is visible immediately and what reveals itself only under special light.
From Fragmentation to Presence
Gradually, through fragments of color, lines, and textured surfaces, an abstract figure appeared — something symbolic, almost icon-like, not in the religious sense but as a silent presence. At that moment I realized that the earlier title no longer reflected what the painting had become:
The figure was now:
- layered
- fractured
- assembled from pieces
- and a new name emerged: Fragmented Icon.
What This Work Means to Me
For me, this work is about an inner gaze — about the quiet light that remains even when everything around seems fragmented.
It is about how we maintain our connection to something larger:
- time
- space
- the universe
Even when our outer form breaks into pieces.
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