Developing the series forward from petitely scaled intimate portrayals from the shoulders and above, The Paper Boat unique edition proclaims a broader ambition and milestone in the significance of this new genre in her work. Remaining a very limited number of pieces at just 95 in total, the artist has retained significant exclusivity around this new release. Darlington’s new muse is a windswept vision, her brunette hair gracefully drifting in the breeze. Pinned lightly on one side with shell and pearls, this young woman is dressed in the oceans of the world. Highlighting the purity of her translucent skin, the warmth of the nude wood below is visually arresting. Gazing at an origami boat which is delicately cradled in both hands held above the swirling sea, miniature tall ships weave amongst the waves below.

Origami, the evocative Japanese word and practice literally meaning to fold paper, the artist feels a resonance to the sentiment;

With the new edition featuring a sacred vessel about to be sent into the water, it carries hopes and longing; perhaps seeking home or a lost memory. Bittersweet in nature, to truly feel love and contentment, often one must also know what it is to be without these fortunes. Matters of the heart are the very essence of these incredible portraits; with contemplation in mind, Kerry Darlington describes the influence of ‘hiraeth’ on her practice. A Welsh term without direct translation, it is a word designed to evoke the emotion of nostalgia, and to missing something. Be that a place, an era or a person, it describes the internal ache of being apart from your heart’s desire, even temporarily. Bringing together philosophies from cultures both East and West, the resulting depiction is a testament to spiritual harmony and inner equilibrium.

With the new edition featuring a sacred vessel about to be sent into the water, it carries hopes and longing; perhaps seeking home or a lost memory. Bittersweet in nature, to truly feel love and contentment, often one must also know what it is to be without these fortunes. Matters of the heart are the very essence of these incredible portraits; with contemplation in mind, Kerry Darlington describes the influence of ‘hiraeth’ on her practice. A Welsh term without direct translation, it is a word designed to evoke the emotion of nostalgia, and to missing something. Be that a place, an era or a person, it describes the internal ache of being apart from your heart’s desire, even temporarily. Bringing together philosophies from cultures both East and West, the resulting depiction is a testament to spiritual harmony and inner equilibrium.