For some, performing is something you do. For others it is something you are. But for the true performer it is the reason you exist. This couldn’t be truer for a creature that performs to procreate. A symbol of self-expression, beauty, sexuality, and spirituality, the peacock is nature’s ostentatious performer. It is only fitting that this glorious bird serve as inspiration for this expressive abstracted portrait of Latin Grammy Nominee, Che Antonio.

Green Che is the visual story of a personal journey of two halves. One, a performative image adorning itself in beauty and talent that is fuelled by social recognition. The second, an identity that is present and connected to the here and now of our human experience. This painting represents the junction point of the two separate paths taken by each half. It is at this pivotal moment of travel through space and time, that the narrative changes from a choice between performance or being present, to finding presence in performance.

The subject’s affinity with nature and spirituality is conveyed through the evocative colour palette that uses psychological principles to captivate the viewer’s mind. A dominant colour in the natural world, green represents nourishment, growth, and renewal. Using a combination of warm and cool toned greens evokes the full spectrum of emotions that this hue imbues through psychological associations with mother nature. From the enveloping feeling of safety of the forest to the sense of optimism from the renewal of life. Complimenting the rich and vibrant greens are regal purples, striking blues, and divine gold. These hues hold strong cultural associations and are connected to concepts such as status, achievement, extravagance, and opulence.

The bold colour field and hard-edge geometric abstraction techniques capture the viewers’ attention and draws them into the narrative, while the realism of the mysterious glancing eye captivates and conveys the unspoken story of self- acceptance and celebration.