Throughout different centuries Darkness has been used as a metaphor negatively associated to controversial issues such as “the unknown”, “sin” and “emotional pain”, but more than anything it has always been identified with the colour black. Thus, darkness and black are two words that can be fused together especially referring to race and social status. Being dark skinned was always considered a “symbol” of belonging to a lower race and low social status; in fact, even amongst white people those who had a darker skin colour were considered to be part of the lower classes who had to work in the fields to earn their living. Being dark meant to be an outsider and even to be less than human, as colonizers thought when they saw black people for the first time. Even having black hair, especially throughout Renaissance, was a symbol of lust and sin. In fact, nearly all the authors of that time dedicated their poems to blond haired women whom they identified with angels. Only Shakespeare dedicates his sonnets to the “Dark lady” who clearly represents sexual desire and temptation.
“Darkness” can be considered a “stigma”, something that arises different reactions. Even in our century darkness and black are linked to mystical issues and to certain different religious, artistic and music groups, whose followers are almost certainly considered outsiders.
The fact that the unknown is always represented by darkness and black has inspired me to create paintings that explore the relationships between those themes and light, which can be identified with life. In fact darkness and light are perfectly opposite. We need both in order to live, we need both in order to know their difference. Even mother earth with its beautiful colours and light is surrounded by an immensity of darkness, represented by the universe, which can be considered the unknown par excellence. This is why my paintings always have a deep black background which surrounds images constructed by very strong colours, such as green that represents earth's fields, vegetables and flora; yellow that represents the sun and light, being at the same time the colour of madness; and finally red which is the colour of fruit, of passion and love.
Therefore green, yellow and red represent light and life against an obscure world of sufferance.

Nancy F