Tea for One, the Sequel
59.5 x 45 inches (151.13 x 114.3 cm) (Stretched)
Enamel on canvas.
Tea for One, the Sequel is the second painting of the trilogy, a profound continuation that captures the exact moment of realization. Here, the subject confronts the mirror not with uncertainty, but with a newfound understanding of how reconnection can be achieved. The two key elements, once distinct, begin to merge, their forms dissolving into the same colors as the background, signaling the integration of past and present, self and other, natural and spiritual.
The painting’s black-on-black composition exudes both subtlety and depth. The background, rendered in a mirror-like sheen of black enamel, evokes infinite possibilities, an unbroken surface that reflects not just light but the evolving nature of perception. Framed by a striking white border, this luminous darkness is both contained and infinite—a window into a moment suspended in time.
In The Sequel, the two abstract figures, once luminous white in the first painting, are now textured, rectangular, and raised, creating an embossed effect that invites tactile engagement. Their surfaces contrast sharply with the flawless background, symbolizing the active reconciliation of past and future. As the figures draw closer together, their shift suggests unity not as an ideal, but as an imminent reality—a merging of natural and spiritual forces that underpins both art and life.
The interplay of texture, color, and geometry signifies the transition from possibility to action. No longer mere beginnings, the figures have evolved, demonstrating the power of change and the necessity of resolve. The subject’s introspection from the first painting evolves into determination—a conscious effort to bridge the chasm that once divided them.
The precise application of the black enamel background invites the viewer to linger in its reflective quality. It draws attention to the delicate tension between the sleek, infinite surface and the tangible, raised forms. This interplay becomes a metaphor for life itself—smooth and seemingly unyielding on the surface, yet layered with texture, meaning, and growth beneath.
Tea for One, the Sequel moves the trilogy forward by embodying the critical moment of clarity. How do we reconcile and shape our relationships—with others, with ourselves, and with the world? As the figures merge into the darkness, they remind us that unity is both a process and a promise, forming the foundation for the trilogy’s ultimate resolution.
Completed in the early May spring of 2014 at the artist's studio in Chelsea, New York.