Exploring the human experience: Emotion, memory and identity

Written by our art advisor Rory, based in Kuala Lumpur, this exploration delves into the works of three remarkable artists—Lenz Geerk, Andrew Cranston, and Aubrey Levinthal—who each offer unique perspectives on the complexities of human emotion, memory, and identity. Through their distinct styles, they invite us to reflect on what it means to be human in a rapidly changing world.

Lenz Geerk: Emotion in the digital and physical realms 

Lenz Geerk is an artist whose work bridges the digital and physical worlds, blending technology with traditional painting techniques. His paintings are more than visual representations—they are psychological landscapes that evoke raw human emotion. Through a restrained colour palette and a focus on gesture, Geerk’s work captures moments of fragility and tension, drawing the viewer into a space where the boundaries between the real and the virtual blur. 

Geerk’s figures are not static; they are living moments, frozen in a threshold between emotional release and introspection. His manipulation of acrylic colour transforms familiar forms into abstractions that hint at deeper emotional undercurrents, creating a tension that resonates long after the viewer has left the canvas. In this way, his work serves as a metaphor for the complex emotional terrain of modern life—a place where digital technology and the human experience intersect in increasingly intricate ways. 

Andrew Cranston: Memory, identity and the subconscious 

In contrast to Geerk’s digital abstraction, Andrew Cranston’s paintings are steeped in a dreamlike, fragmented quality that speaks to the deeper recesses of the human mind. His works—often ethereal and elusive—reflect his exploration of memory, identity, and the subconscious. Through his muted colour palettes and fragmented forms, Cranston offers a visual language for the complexities of human experience. 

The psychological depth in Cranston’s work invites viewers to confront their own memories and emotional states, using abstract figures and ambiguous environments to create a space for personal reflection. His paintings, though enigmatic, resonate with a quiet emotional power that pulls us into a world where the boundaries between the conscious and subconscious are blurred. 

Aubrey Levinthal: The quiet strength of the human figure 

Aubrey Levinthal’s approach to the human figure is both intimate and expansive, as she explores vulnerability, strength, and the quiet moments that define our lives. Through her sensitive renderings of domestic scenes and portraits, Levinthal invites us to engage with the internal lives of her subjects. Each painting is a glimpse into the private emotional spaces we inhabit in everyday life—spaces often filled with both strength and fragility. 

Levinthal’s works speak to the emotional resonance of the mundane, transforming simple, everyday moments into profound meditations on the human experience. Her use of colour and form creates a sense of intimacy, drawing the viewer into the psychological states of her subjects. In this way, Levinthal’s work underscores the importance of the personal and the private in shaping our identities.

Together, the works of Lenz Geerk, Andrew Cranston and Aubrey Levinthal offer a profound exploration of what it means to be human in a world that is constantly evolving. By examining the interplay of emotion, memory, and identity, these artists create spaces for reflection and connection, bridging the personal and universal. Their distinct yet complementary approaches not only capture the complexities of the human experience but also establish them as artists to watch, promising an exciting future in contemporary art.