Veld Fire

Description

Veld Fire is a raw and quintessentially South African scene, painted with an energy that matches its subject. Harris masterfully contrasts the explosive, almost violent, energy of the fire with the bleak stillness of the burnt landscape. The flames are a riot of brilliant oranges, yellows, and reds, painted with a thick, impasto technique that makes them feel alive and crackling with heat.

This vibrant blaze crawls across the dry grass, leaving behind a trail of smoke and blackened earth under a heavy, oppressive sky. The skeletal forms of lifeless trees stand as stark reminders of the fire’s power. This is not just a landscape; it’s a narrative of destruction and the inevitable cycle of rebirth inherent to the African veld.

Artist: James Harris (SA 1980)