"Beneath the Canop"
Oil on canvas · 150 × 70 cm (59.1 × 27.6 in)
The bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus) is one of the largest antelopes of the tropical forest.
I spent two weeks deep in the tropical forest of Cameroon in search of this majestic, colourful, wild, and shy antelope. Two days' drive from the nearest town, the rainforest of central Africa is the world's second largest forest massif, spanning five countries: Cameroon, Gabon, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Central African Republic.
What strikes you first is the extreme humidity and density of this forest. As soon as you pass through the wall of vegetation that borders the tracks, you enter a world apart — made of sounds, smells, and sensations never encountered before. This is no longer the Africa I know; it is something else. And this is only the beginning of a sensory experience that will first fill me with wonder, then terrify me, and finally exhaust and wring me out.
What I wanted to convey in this painting is ultimately that incredible experience I lived. The main subject of the painting is, in the end, less the bongo than this forest that grabs you, drawing you into its labyrinth of elephant-made tracks. The composition guides the viewer's eye; mystery carries you along; you are inside the painting, and the only way out is that source of light.
I — Original Work
"Beneath the Canop"
Original work sold — Private Collection
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II — Canvas Editions
Numbered art print, hand-signed by the artist. On 375 gsm matte canvas. Comes with a certificate of authenticity and the artist's double signature.
Shipping: rolled in a tube or framed ready to hang.
