Untitled 

Craig Mullins created this charcoal drawing of a figure with their back turned to us. The motif of the turned back is powerful, steeped in a complex emotional weight across art history. It is a motif that silently speaks of introspection, of turning away from the world, from relationships, from interactions; think of Caspar David Friedrich’s Rückenfigur, contemplating the vastness of nature, which transcends the mere physical posture of the individual. It becomes a symbol of our human desire for autonomy. This introspective posture suggests not only physical withdrawal but also the emotional or psychological state of the person depicted. It reflects how artists have tapped into our collective understanding of solitude and reflection, engaging viewers on a subconscious level with the emotional depths of human experience. Thus, the turned back reappears, evolves, and takes on new meanings, resonating with our shared and evolving human experiences.