The Silver Beast of Conquest

The Silver Beast of Conquest

Medium: Oil paint on linen
Size: 30.5 × 40.5 × 2 cm
Framed: 35 × 46 × 3.5 cm

Inspired by my travels in Latin America, The Silver Beast of Conquest reflects on the legacy of colonialism and the immense human cost of Spain’s pursuit of silver. A beast-like form dragging itself across the canvas became a symbol of that relentless hunger for wealth and power.

Although rooted in the history of Latin America, the painting is not only about the past. The same forces continue to shape the modern world, as conflicts over land, resources, power, ideology and religion leave destruction in their wake. The silver beast is still with us, taking different forms but driven by the same hunger.