Ebony & Gold

Description

Personal Review of “Ebony & Gold” by Edwin Barrington Lue-Shing

Edwin Barrington Lue-Shing’s new painting, Ebony & Gold, feels like his most personal and challenging work yet. You can sense the struggle and patience that went into this piece — months of dedication, experimenting with gold paint and the fragile touch of gold leaf. The difficulty of the process almost seeps through the canvas, making the final result even more powerful.

The subject, a deeply Black African woman, sits within her humble and improvised home. Yet, despite the simplicity of her surroundings, she radiates strength and dignity. Her Blackness doesn’t just inhabit the space — it transforms it. The dark tones glow against the golden light, and suddenly the walls of her abode are no longer plain but alive, bathed in a sacred warmth.

What drew me in most were the details. The folds of her dress, the textures that build up her environment — everything has been carefully considered, nothing feels rushed. The gold doesn’t overwhelm but instead elevates her, wrapping the painting in a light that celebrates her presence. It’s as if the painting breathes, shifting between intimacy and grandeur.

For me, Ebony & Gold is more than just a painting — it’s an emotional experience. It feels like Edwin has poured not just technique but soul into this work, weaving resilience, beauty, and radiance into one canvas. Standing before it, you don’t just see the colours — you feel the story.
Medium:Acrylic on canvas with mixed media & painted resin areas.
Height: 24″ (60cm) width: 18″ (46cm) Depth: 1″ (3cm)