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All Hope Is Not Lost (Star Wars) Large by Mark Davies

Well, this didn’t turn out as planned, and I am really pleased about that! When I set about planning ‘Lithium’, I wanted to deliver a mix of styles and formats, to continue to offer a varied and tailored body of work. As my ‘Vinyl’ editions have proven so popular since their introduction in 2022, the plan was to create a ‘Star Wars’ edition that paid homage to the power of the music that runs through the movies.

The idea was going to be that I took you inside the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon, but the smaller format was proving to be restrictive given the fact that the image would need to work with various pieces of text, logos and an album ‘masthead’. This would have meant compromises and you can’t do that with ‘Star Wars’! There was also the fear that I wouldn’t be able to build a scene from those moments that differed enough from the original movie stills that allowed me to be authentic, respectful, and unique and not cross to the dark side. So that plan was put aside, however, the reason that it was shortlisted was because the format and film would go perfectly, so that can be for another day, not too far, far away though!

Past pieces such as ‘Join Me’ and ‘Attack on Echo Base’ have been all out-action scenes, where I have not wanted to deviate too far but to simply amplify everything to the level that we remember when looking back at that wonderful age of movies. I know you lot love my scene pieces so I chose to create ‘All Hope is Not Lost’ but differently to how it could easily have been offered. Several of my pieces within this collection are driven by the call to never give up, that help IS coming and good will overpower evil, even if it is right by your door. As there are no breaks when creating main collections, without a doubt this influenced my mindset for the narrative behind what you now see. I wanted to create something different, beautiful, and full of hope. I feel proud that I have achieved that in abundance, whilst not alienating those who love the drama and action.

Throughout my artist career, my works have never had to rely on characters to tell the story. It is written into the detail, the clues that are left behind. Art is wonderfully subjective and so it should be, there will be some who love the subtleness of ‘Shifting Sands’ and ‘Battles Passed’, whilst others will favour the no holds barred action pieces where characters roam freely. For me, this piece was taken over the moment I saw that beautiful image of Leia sat in her white dress, so calmy and with the look that immediately connected. From that point I was hell-bent on building this piece around her, and that look in her eyes.

Composition was a major part in this, and it is good to move away from any comfort zone. It is a strange feeling as you have this sense that you are doing something differently, but you can’t put your finger on it. It means you have this confidence and excitement that you are building something special and true to your intentions but where you also seek feedback and I guess, reassurance from those who either really know you or the target audience. It is so important to keep testing and questioning yourself and never being blind sighted.

So, the overriding concept of this piece is that her friends ARE coming, they may be one step behind, but they are on their way. Smoke plays tricks and clouds judgement and I know so many of you have thought that you have seen faces within backgrounds only to be told that it was a trick. Look at the Falcon, has it docked or in flight? Either way it is coming. Leia’s comrades have been depicted in a blackened silhouette style to suggest that are to play a key role in her rescue but not quite yet. Contrast that with the drama that is unfolding behind her as Vader, flanked by his Stormtroopers march into view.

‘All Hope is Not Lost’ is a shining example of the battle between darkness and light, good and evil and one that epitomises the impact of having people that you can always rely on, no matter what. After all, it’s not the size of the army but the power within an army.

Rest in peace Carrie x