The Child

• year: 2009

• size: 140 x 110 x 8 (cm)

• technique: mixed media on wood

• status: available

The Child, 2010 — an emblematic work from Kende’s early mature period, where figurative imagery and urban abstraction converge within a single visual language. At the center of the composition, the silhouette of a seated child emerges from a surface layered with calligraphic marks, faded inscriptions, painterly gestures and traces of accumulated history. The figure appears isolated yet resilient, occupying a space suspended between presence and memory.

Rather than presenting a specific narrative, Kende transforms the child into a universal symbol of introspection, vulnerability and human experience. The monochromatic figure contrasts with the complexity of the surrounding surface, creating a visual tension between innocence and the chaotic rhythm of contemporary urban life. Graffiti-derived forms, partially erased writings and weathered textures evoke the passage of time, suggesting fragments of stories absorbed and preserved within the city itself.

The work reflects the artist’s ongoing investigation into the relationship between personal identity and collective memory. Through a process of layering, concealment and revelation, the urban environment becomes more than a backdrop; it becomes a psychological landscape in which emotion and experience are embedded. The Child stands as a powerful meditation on solitude, growth and the enduring dialogue between the inner world and the visual language of the street.