Nomads

A series of striking portraits by artist Simon Yorke at Oakland art gallery, New Brighton. It's a small gallery, but always has work that challenges. These portraits were from a series of photos of homeless people who were begging around the Tate gallery in London. Simon painted the eyes first... 'because people often look away from homeless people, they don't want to make eye contact with them.  I'm hoping these portraits will help change  that...' I hope so too. 
I liked the juxtaposition of the homeless people, with barely a blanket to their name, with the decadence of a velvet covered chaise for lounging on.