Hiraeth is rooted in a childhood experience with a pigeon my father found unable to fly. I never gave it a name, but over time it became tame and a bond developed between us.
One day, I found it dying, and I held it in my hands as its body gradually became cold. The memory stayed with me. Years later, while painting Hiraeth, a bird appeared naturally in the work. Only during the process did I realise that it was connected to that childhood memory.
For me, the bird became a symbol of loss, attachment, longing and passing. The woman is a fictional character, intentionally shown without a specific identity, allowing viewers to connect the painting with their own memories and experiences.

The photograph included with the submission shows a different pigeon that died from illness years later.
Hiraeth,2026.Oil on canvas, 120×140cm.

Learn more here