Why communication with the viewer matters to me.

Every painting I create begins as a private conversation. Its an intimate exchange between the canvas and myself. But the moment a finished work is placed before a viewer, something remarkable happens: that private dialogue becomes shared. A new voice enters the exchange, a new set of eyes brings new interpretations and suddenly, the artwork no longer belongs to me. It becomes a bridge between two imaginations.

This is why communication in my paintings is not just important, it is essential.

A Painting as a Language

To me, a painting is more than pigment on a surface. It is a language made of textures, shapes, colours and spaces. Like any language, it carries intention. There is something I am trying to say, whether it is a feeling, a memory, a state of mind, or even a question.

But for that message to reach the viewer, clarity matters.

If I do not know what I want to express and if my intention is blurred then the viewer only receives doubt. Instead of a meaningful dialogue, confusion takes place and confusion rarely stirs the soul the way clarity can.

Here are five sketches of the same landscape with different intentions. For each sketch I have a different intention and the composition reflects that intention.

Title: Man looking at a cow.

Here the man is in the foreground and the cow is further away. A small sailboat is far away and le Morne mountain is in the background

Title: Cow looking at a man.

Here the cow is in the foreground and the man is further away. A small sailboat is far away and le Morne mountain is in the background

Title: The sailboat.

Here the sail boat is in the foreground and the man and his cow are further away. Le Morne mountain is in the background.

Title: Le Morne mountain.

Here the man and his cow are in the foreground but cropped, the sailboat is far away and the mountain is bigger.

Title: Low tide.

Here the man an his cow are far away and so is the sail boat. Le Morne mountain is in the background. The land in the foreground represent the low tide.

All is in the painter’s decision

I often say:“In my paintings, 50% of the work is made by the viewers and how they perceive my intentions.”

This is not a poetic exaggeration. It is the truth of how my art lives in the world.

The moment the painting leaves my studio, the viewer steps in as a co-creator. Their emotions, memories, personal histories, and even their subconscious patterns of perception shape what they receive from the artwork. They contribute as much as I do, but their contribution relies on having a starting point—a thread to follow.

My responsibility is to give them that thread.

If my intentions are clear, viewers can enter confidently and discover the story I’ve laid out for them. They might find meanings I didn’t expect, but they are still guided by the foundation I’ve established.

Without that foundation, perception becomes a maze.

The Challenge of My Zafer Style

In my Zafer style, communication becomes even more critical. This style is bold, energetic, and rich with colours and shapes. With so many elements interacting on the canvas, there is always a risk that the visual language becomes chaotic. If everything speaks at once, nothing is heard.

So I must “control” the colours, the shapes, the flow, and the composition. Every stroke needs a purpose. Every vibrancy needs an anchor. The harmony is intentional, never accidental.

Too many colours without control create visual chaos. Too many shapes without direction create distraction. Too many ideas without structure create confusion.

A Painting Lives Through Connection

In the end, a “Zafer” painting without communication is like a letter never opened. It may be beautifully written, but it reaches no one. It leaves no mark. But when intention meets perception and when the artist and the viewer engage in a shared conversation, something unforgettable is created. Something that lives beyond brushstrokes.

My role as an artist is not only to paint but to dialogue. To express myself with clarity. To invite participation. To induce feelings of joy and happiness. My art becomes alive only when it is seen and felt.

And that life begins with communication.