Charles Hascoet’s paintings are driven by intuition, using self-portraiture as a vehicle for deeper interpersonal understanding. As the work unfolds, it lures him toward completion, allowing the subconscious to reveal layers of meaning—whether symbolic or something obvious yet previously unseen. In his works, Hascoet interacts with objects, landscapes, and fantastical creatures, creating scenes that range from deeply personal to universally reflective. In ‘Matcha Drinker’, the central focus is a Bonsai Tree, rendered in an oversaturated maple red. The tree’s confined, transient nature, entirely dependent on its owner, reflects themes of freedom and constraint. As the artist contemplates this, sipping warm green tea, we are left wondering: is he mourning its confinement, or reflecting on his own sense of being rooted in place, subject to the decisions of others?