Silent 2017

Jason Limon made "Silent" in 2017, a painting where the colors are muted but everything feels very deliberate. It’s like each brushstroke knows exactly where it’s going, yet there's also a quirky, almost playful vibe to the whole thing. I’m really drawn to the texture here. The artist’s touch is so visible, especially in the way the paint creates this almost tangible surface. Look at the way the light hits those ornate details around the owl's face, notice all the embellishments! It's a mix of careful control and letting the medium do its thing. The word ‘Silent’ looming above the figure adds another layer, and that little skeleton wearing a birthday hat adds a layer of humour in the face of the great leveller. This reminds me a bit of James Ensor, with that shared interest in carnival aesthetics. “Silent” isn’t trying to be anything other than what it is: a weird, wonderful, slightly spooky vision.