The artist could be trying to express VS The artist could have been to express

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hi,

I’d like to know if I can use the two following sentences interchangeably:

  • The artist could be trying to express his loneliness.
  • The artist could have been trying to express his loneliness.

Cheerio

2

could be - doing it now (present)
could have been - doing it at that time (past)

3

Alright, Beverley.