Mantas Poderys

Shota, 2021

Pastel on cotton paper | Unframed: 15 x 33 cm; Framed: 25 x 43 cm

‘Shota is a friend of mine. Now based in Ireland, he is originally from Japan, known as the Land of the Rising Sun. In this portrait (our collaboration), I aimed to capture Shota’s personality and depict him just being himself. Here, he is taking it all in. He is peacefully accepting the sunlight and surrendering to it. His closed eyes enhance his other senses. As Shota says, “I want to see what my eyes can’t see.”’ 

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