New Scientist – The Real Reasons Miscarriage Exists 2020

Owen Gent’s image for ‘New Scientist’ uses digital tools to achieve the kinds of textures and layering we often see in printmaking, and this feels right for a piece about the science of life and loss. There’s a beautiful sadness in this composition. The woman’s form is solid ochre, shadowed with reds and blues, but her head is cast in darkness and turned away. She holds a rose, its leaves almost black, its petals a hopeful, but fragile, red. Look closely, and you’ll see the artist has paid attention to the fall of each petal, the way they scatter like tears. In the background, an ominous shadow of another rose looms over the scene, suggesting how nature can feel indifferent to our individual grief. In this piece, Gent reminds us that art is a conversation about the human condition. I think of Paula Rego, another artist who wasn’t afraid to explore difficult and emotionally complex themes in her work.