As Purvis Young began his ascent onto the world stage in the mid 1990’s his work grew increasingly sophisticated – brushstrokes became refined, less became more – and the art from that period showcased the reductivist tendencies that would signal a more mature approach to expression. At first glance, it seems a simple work, but scrutiny proves otherwise.Two figures dominate the painting, a vertical full scaled sage alive with wisdom and the other, a blood tinged syringe positioned as a horizontal harbinger of doom. The artist’s intuitive utilization of negative space is masterful. Here Young has intentionally positioned the sage close to an electrical outlet cutout providing a view to the unseen. Ambient colors are lightly applied, allowing for visual integration of woodgrain beneath a sky full of stars – and the frame is of particular note. It is during this period that Young began to introduce strips of frame repurposed from other efforts, painting repetitive patterns on wood and then slicing them into usable lengths to frame the primary work. This technique would continue to inform Young’s art for years to follow.