The Tread

An original and emotionally charged contemporary painting, part of the Kintsugi series. A seated male figure holds a delicate, luminous golden thread that binds his own wrist — a powerful metaphor for self-healing, self-sabotage, fate and free will.
The work is executed in heavy impasto, with thick, sculptural layers of paint that give the canvas a raw, three-dimensional presence. The figure is modeled in expressive whites, greys and subtle pinks, his muscular form rendered with visible, gestural brushstrokes that convey tension and introspection.
The background is a dramatic interplay of deep greens, Prussian blue and turquoise, with diagonal rays of pale yellow light breaking through — as if hope or consciousness is entering the darkness. The surface is rich with palette knife textures and raised impasto cracks.
The central element is the kintsugi thread in gold relief. Made with raised metallic gold paste / gold leaf, it is not painted flat but stands out from the canvas in 3D. It physically connects the two hands, symbolizing the Japanese art of Kintsugi: we are both the wounded and the one who mends the wound. The thread is both a bond and a lifeline.
This painting speaks about inner struggle, accountability, and the fragile but precious act of holding oneself together.
Original, one-of-a-kind artwork, signed by the artist (SP monogram, bottom right). The texture and the 3D gold thread create a captivating effect that shifts with the light.