JAMES MERCER
Fantasy James
oil on canvas
32 x 46 inches
2020

Fantasy James

I found myself writing short texts in deep frustration and anger about climate change. The extremeness of the texts seemed to have no outlet in my daily life, but still I felt called to put the ideas down, as if they might untie a knot somewhere. Eventually I realised I could use painting to imagine alternate versions of myself, to explore what it would be like to live these convictions. It was a small breakthrough in my perception of what painting can do, of it’s capacity for speculation, anticipation, and fantasy. Thus the title “Fantasy James”.