Ryan Gander Couvrir, 2024

Couvrir may be a portrait the artist made with his son. But the surface of the painting is largely hidden, with just a narrow strip of its lower part visible. Covered by a piece of burlap with the word "Couvrir" (ENG: to cover or to shield) written on it in black letters, the writing doubles as title and description. The canvas is held in a frame, meaning viewers will not be able to lift the cover and the painting forever shielded from view.

Gander has played with inaccessible art works hidden by layers of other materials or placed in locked rooms in the past, drawing attention to the power of the imagination.