About this artwork

40 × 60 cm | Oil on newspaper, mixed media | 2026

LAWLESS is a contemporary portrait inspired by the mythology of power, rebellion, and masculine authority. Painted in oil on layered newspaper, the work draws on the visual language of crime narratives and historical memory, transforming a familiar archetype into a symbol of modern defiance.
The figure stands rigid and controlled, positioned against a surface saturated with historical headlines and fragmented text. The newspaper ground evokes collective memory, conflict, and social unrest, while the painted silhouette asserts dominance and restraint. Power here is not expressive — it is calculated, silent, and deliberate.
By merging figurative imagery with mass media remnants, the work reflects on how authority is constructed, romanticised, and consumed. The tension between vulnerability and control underscores the fragility beneath dominance, questioning where power truly resides.
LAWLESS forms part of an ongoing body of work exploring contemporary icons and archetypes as modern myths — shaped by media, desire, and cultural projection. The painting is conceived as an exhibition-ready piece, suitable for gallery and art fair presentation.