Cast into deep shadows by the full moon, a lone figure with eyes closed strongly grasps a tree trunk in a moment of deeply held listening, willing communion. The tree responds by emanating a procession of luminous growths that bubble up with a sense of magical light and vital energy, catching the texture of the bark as they rise, to reveal vibrant oranges and greens.

Conceived whilst living in Paris at the end of 2022, this work was produced by the artist at a time during unusual urbanisation that separated him from his habitual forest wanderings. Trojanowski has consistently returned to the forest as a site of exploration and metaphor as a psychological space to embattle the leaden mood of cold urban austerity and to use the power of memory and emotion to rekindle one’s vital relationship to the earth.

Strong black brushstrokes create sharp angles with the blue flat ground, and pigments, thinned with linseed oil and turpentine, contrast with precisely placed textural marks on the bark.