#22992 Ken Done

The composition presents a still life arrangement centered around a potted lily plant. Here we observe three prominent blooms rising from a dark pot filled with textured soil. The lilies are rendered in stark white against a deep black background, creating a high contrast that emphasizes their form and purity. Long, slender green leaves extend downwards, adding verticality to the scene.
The artist has employed a simplified, almost graphic style; outlines are bold and defined, and shading is minimal. This approach lends a sense of immediacy and clarity to the subject matter. The pot itself is depicted with a rough texture suggesting soil and organic material. A horizontal yellow stripe runs across the lower portion of the painting, acting as a visual ledge upon which two seashells rest. One shell is a spiraled cone shape, while the other exhibits a more complex, ruffled form.
The subtexts within this work seem to revolve around themes of fragility and resilience. The lilies, symbols of purity and rebirth, are presented in a contained environment – the pot – suggesting both protection and limitation. Their stark whiteness against the darkness could be interpreted as representing innocence or hope amidst adversity. The seashells, often associated with journeys and the oceans depths, introduce an element of natural transience and the passage of time. They appear somewhat incongruous alongside the cultivated plant, hinting at a broader connection between domesticity and the wildness of nature.
The deliberate flatness of the composition, combined with the limited color palette, contributes to a sense of quiet contemplation. The arrangement feels carefully considered, suggesting an exploration of simple beauty and the interplay between contrasting elements.