Migration VI turns its gaze toward the shared burden between couples—those who make the difficult choice to leave behind what is known, often for safety, love, or the hope of a better future. The painting captures a moment of pause and resilience, as two figures crouch together beneath the familiar checkered blanket. Their bodies lean in, anchored to one another in quiet solidarity.

The couple is interracial, adding another dimension to the complexity of migration—where not only place but perception shifts. Their union, while rooted in love and strength, also bears the weight of navigating cultural differences and external scrutiny. In unfamiliar settings, their relationship can be both a source of power and a site of tension—an emblem of unity that sometimes draws attention, assumptions, or misunderstanding.

The man looks upward, beyond the frame, his face set with determination. His hands, rendered with a skeletal quality, feel worn and ghostlike—echoing the phrase “working his fingers to the bone.” They speak of sacrifice and exhaustion, the physical toll of starting over. His grip around the other’s hand is both protective and fragile, suggesting tenderness even in hardship.

Beside him, the woman sits curled into herself, her expression guarded but alert. She embodies the emotional weight of the journey—the fear, uncertainty, and strength required to move forward. Her arms are crossed tightly, almost as if bracing against the world. Yet the closeness of their bodies and the sheltering blanket above them offer a sense of unity and shared purpose.

The split background—burnt orange on one side, yellow on the other—continues the series’ motif of duality, marking the emotional heat of departure and the stark light of arrival. As with the other works, abstracted realism allows the figures to drift in and out of clarity. Paint drips down like time, memory, or sweat—reminding us that migration is not a single event, but an ongoing process.

Here, the checkered blanket is again more than fabric—it becomes a shield, a shared history, a home they carry with them. This painting is about love in motion, the unspoken strength of partnership, and the layered courage it takes to leave everything behind, face a world that may not fully understand you, and still hold onto each other.

Migration VI

70 x 80 cm

Oil on canvas

2025