Cutting Winds 1

Description

Cutting Winds 1 explores the unsettling experience of facing adversity without knowing where it comes from or why things seem to be going wrong. It reflects those periods in life when difficulties arrive unexpectedly, one after another, leaving a person feeling exposed to forces that are difficult to identify, understand or control.

On the left of the composition, a solitary figure holds up what appears to be an umbrella or protective barrier. From the right, a torrent of knives cuts through the grey space, their sharp forms suspended in motion. The contrast between the figure’s attempt at protection and the incoming blades creates a sense of vulnerability and unease. The threat is unmistakable, yet its source remains unseen.

For Rose Marinelli, the knives represent the unexpected problems, setbacks and pressures that can enter our lives without explanation. Sometimes it is not a single event that unsettles us, but the accumulation of things going wrong — circumstances that seem to come from nowhere, with no clear reason or obvious way to stop them. The absence of a visible attacker reinforces this uncertainty, suggesting that the forces working against us may remain beyond our understanding.

The figure’s protective stance captures the instinct to shield oneself when circumstances become difficult. The barrier offers some defence, but it cannot remove the threat entirely. There is a tension between the desire to feel safe and the reality that not everything can be anticipated or controlled.

The title, Cutting Winds 1, evokes the sensation of being struck by something invisible. Like a cold wind that cuts through clothing, adversity can be felt long before its source is understood. The experience is real, even when its origins remain obscure.

Through its bold forms, contrasting colours and sense of relentless movement, the work reflects the challenge of continuing forward when life feels unpredictable. It is not simply about endurance in the face of hardship, but about the uncertainty of not knowing what you are dealing with, where the next setback will come from, or how long the pressure will last.

Cutting Winds 1 invites viewers to consider those moments when all they can do is brace themselves, protect what they can and keep moving through the storm — even when there is no clear explanation for why it has arrived.