Water Ground Hell Sky (2021) is a magnificent collaged, brightly colored work that epitomizes Hancock’s practice. The work began as a simple black and white line drawing of legs and feet that transformed into a grand American footballer walking on water. The work’s title came to Hancock during the making — the layering of reds and blues conjured imagery of water and sky within a hellscape. Although the figure is charged with energy and propulsion, he is still firmly rooted within the frame of the canvas unable to move. The spinning legs evoke a cartoon running on the spot as well as anatomical study, or Vitruvian man. The painting speaks to humanity, love and separation — no matter how hard he pushes he is trapped and cannot reach his loved ones. The large hand with eyes in-between the fingers is symbolic of the eye to hand relationship the artist has, merging into one organ when creating art.

The work is testament to Hancock’s practice, in which he layers concepts and materials with great complexity. Formal elements of medium, colour, shape and line are of upmost importance to the artist, who creates work with dynamism and impact, in order to communicate narrative elements.