On Collecting Art with Koby Martin

On Collecting Art – Koby Martin, “Conversations with my Bible, 2019”

I perceive a little boy, head tilted back, staring into the infinities of the sky. The sky with its endless possibilities is a common space for us all as we often look to it for answers because of it’s vastness and endless possibilities. This little boy is blinded by a pink book covering his eyes. I search for the title of this piece as my instincts are drawn to the book perhaps relating to a religious context. Entitled ‘Conversations with my Bible’, I become even more invested into the moment with this little boy, alternating between becoming him, and observing him. I sit for some time with my thoughts, and am met with many emotions: hope, loss, confusion, desire, vulnerability and back to hope. It is a piece I return to often, for it appropriates and enables me to ask God the more pressing existential questions people of faith can often be encouraged not to approach. Despite a deep adoration for spirituality, I often reflect on the indoctrinated fear poured into humanity when one seeks to ask God inconceivable questions. This little boy transports me to the first years of my life, restlessly fighting with God and sleep about what life will feel like when all of this is no more, or what life is like beyond the sky, or what does forever feel like, will forever have it’s end? It is a piece of art that takes me back to the felt sense of overwhelm after fighting with such questions and surrendering them to my mother in the middle of the night whilst sleeping and resting my fears against the comfort of her back. I ask my mother these questions, and she wakes up with a tone of worry, compassion and slight irritation. “Don’t think about things you cannot control, think only of the things happening now”. Just over 25 years later, I remember this moment and think of this felt sense of deep thought whilst I stare at this little protagonist painted by Koby Martin. Sometimes, when life feels so sweet, when a moment touches me so deeply I say to myself “I never want this world to stop, I want it forever and ever and I never want to die”, I think of little me asking God these questions where I am met with silence. I love this piece for it triggers me to relive the past, embrace the present and fear not for the future. It is the epitome of existentialism where it relates to God. Not all conversations will be attended to, not all answers will make sense, what matters is the capacity to embrace.

Some years later, it is 2024 and I attend an exhibition by the artist, Koby Martin. Whilst in conversation with him I summon up the ability to enquire whether prints are still available, to which they are. Now, it is home with me and waiting patiently to be adorned in a space one day soon.

Where can I find the artist?

Website: www.kobmart.co.uk

Instagram: koby_martin