Index, 2026

oil paint and hematein on linen

“Index” is a multi-part painting consisting of several canvases displayed together. The title refers to the concept of the index: a sign that points toward something beyond itself. The individual canvases do not form a complete image, but instead imply the existence of a larger context that remains inaccessible. The work was created using traditional oil paints and hematein, a colourant derived from logwood (Haematoxylum campechianum). Hematein is used in histological tissue staining to make cellular structures visible under a microscope. In this work, hematein is visible in the deep purple areas of the painting. As a plant-based colourant, hematein reacts to light, causing it to change, fade, and eventually disappear over time.