Sad Waters, Different Oceans, Secret fires: Renée Estée

In ‘Sad waters, different oceans, secret fires 30’ the maroon stroke of paint, reminiscent of a boat, is obscured by a looming dark cloud emerging on the horizon, moments away from swallowing the vessel whole. Here, Estée calls the Cornish Tale of Bucca, a fable said that sea spirit mermen came to shore to inhabit coastal communities during stormy weather and help local fishermen by driving fish towards their net.

The ghost-like figures that sway and float between murky washes of oil paint seem to be caught between two moments – night and day, then and now, land and sea, real and imagined. They meander through uncharted waters exploring the oceans' dark folds, where mythical creatures sleep and shipwreck lay. Estée encourages us to connect to these mythological sentients and lead us toward other spaces beyond our immediate reality - like a siren she calls out to the corners of ourselves and our world yet to be discovered.