Before I Knew You

Phoebe Hardwick

Hardwick’s work can be seen as an exploration of the unconscious. The juxtaposition of hyper-realistic colour and assured brushwork with ambiguous narratives creates a space where repressed memories and desires surface. The uncanny elements in her paintings - such as a woman barefoot in a formal wood-panelled setting with her arms behind her - evoke a sense of familiarity disrupted, prompting viewers to confront their own subconscious associations. 

Hardwick’s paintings, therefore, act as a mirror to the viewer’s psyche, reflecting the complexities of identity, memory, and desire. Through her art, she invites us to engage with the hidden layers of our own consciousness, making the familiar unfamiliar and prompting introspection.