Smoke Soot Artworks

The process itself is both captivating and symbolic. The artist carefully guides the flame, allowing the smoke to curl and dance across the canvas, leaving behind intricate patterns and textures. This ephemeral medium, born of fire and air, mirrors the transient nature of icebergs, which are constantly shifting, melting, and reforming.

The resulting images are hauntingly beautiful, capturing the grandeur and fragility of these icy behemoths. The delicate layers of soot evoke the strata formed over millennia, while the subtle gradations of tone and shadow create a sense of depth and dimension. The icebergs appear as ghostly apparitions, their forms both familiar and otherworldly.

The use of carbon, a primary component of soot, adds a layer of environmental commentary to the works. Carbon, a key element in climate change, is responsible for the warming temperatures that are causing icebergs to melt at an alarming rate. By using carbon as a medium, Gentry draws attention to the environmental impact of human activity and the urgent need for action to address climate change.

Beyond their environmental message, the Smoke Soot artworks also explore themes of memory and loss. The ephemeral nature of the medium and the subject matter prompts reflection on the fleeting nature of time and the inevitability of change. The icebergs, once seemingly permanent fixtures of the polar landscape, are now vanishing at an alarming rate, their memory preserved in Gentry's haunting images.

Nick Gentry's Smoke Soot artworks are a powerful and evocative exploration of the natural world and our relationship to it. They capture the beauty and fragility of icebergs, while also serving as a poignant reminder of the environmental challenges we face.