Onion Flower

This monochrome work from 2022 represents a pivotal moment in my development. Although older than many of the other pieces in this selection, it already shows the expressive brushwork that would later define my current style. It is one of the two largest canvases in this collection, and the only monochrome painting.

The subject arose from a happy accident: a sprouting onion from my kitchen cupboard was planted in a container on my balcony, where it grew into a beautiful, spherical bloom. This plant continued to surprise me for two more years with its elegant growth — a testament to nature’s resilience, which is also captured in this painting.

By choosing a monochrome palette, I achieved a chiaroscuro effect reminiscent of Renaissance painting, where dramatic contrasts between light and shadow emphasize the sculptural qualities of the flower head. The blossoms burst like fireworks against the background, while the bold, expressive brushstrokes capture the energy and vitality of the growing plant.

This painting foreshadows my later development: the monochrome palette pushes the focus toward texture and movement — precisely the elements that would later become central to my more expressive phase.