Justin Mortimer’s paintings are wonderfully executed. He demonstrates a masterful use of paint, and negotiates an erie sense of spacial relations. Mortimer’s imagery is nothing less than unsettling, and the selection of works here are some of his safer, less horrific examples. Looking at his site I got a sinking feeling in my belly, without any interest to look away. Mortimer paints scenes of devastation, human fragility and desperation in what seems like a post apocalyptic world.

Looking at Mortimer’s work reminds me this obsession of looking at the horrific imagery of the recent tsunami in Japan as it plays over and over in the media; I find it heart wrenching and saddening, yet I don’t look away. My heart goes out to the Japanese.

So I ask myself, what can we take away from such realities and situations? I suggest we reach out and show our love one another a little bit more.

If you are willing to stomach it, check out more of Mortimer’s paintings on his site.