Copy/Past (Study)

This study ended up helping produce a theme of adding tattoos to many paintings and pushed this idea into a large part of my new work.

A simple nude study becomes something more, the Banksy tattoo on her ankle, also referencing 'copy' and 'past' tattooed on her fingers adds depth to the image. The body becomes another canvas to paint on within the image.

Thoughts turn to the way we recycle images and popularise them, especially with the ever faster uses of technology. From the beginnings of pop art to the recent mass circulation of the Abu Ghraib photos, this mass circulation of images can help us reflect more deeply as a society. As we copy and paste we copy the past making it more accessible to all with the introduction of the internet.

Painted Jan 2011/July 2011

The Goddess of Good Hope

This Painting is looking to starvation in third world countries and the idea of using insects as a renewable source of protein.

I like playing with clichéd images and adapting these and pushing them a little further. I do believe there is real truth in clichéd images. Here I refer to the skulls in the babies eyes as a metaphor for death.

The Beetle, seen as a worshipped/sacred insect in many cultures, mainly the Scarab, but here I used the Stag as visually, it to me, seems the most impressive of the beetles, its powerful jaws represent a real ephemeral power.

One of its legs pointing at the Cape of Good Hope represents the theme of the painting, a chance of renewed hope in this insect food ideology.

Painted in Jan 2011, this paining marked to me a start of a new focus on the work. Where before I had not been overly concerned with the detail of the painting, after some good criticism from a close friend (Rachel), I decided that I needed to pay more attention to the detail. This led to a much better quality of work.

I Think - (Masters of the Dogs of War)

This painting is looking to War, fear of the future, acknowledgement of the nature of survival, the Blood Diamonds of Siera Leone, genocide and dictatorship.

A happy little painting...

Permaculture

This painting is looking into modern farming techniques of permaculture.

"Permaculture works with nature to make a better world for all. By observing the natural world we can see a set of principles at work. Permaculture design uses these principles to develop integrated systems that provide for our needs of food, shelter, energy and community in ways that are healthy and efficient. We can use permaculture design methods to improve the quality and productivity of our individual lives, our society and our environment." taken from

http://www.permaculture.org.uk/

I came across this work from a documentary on the BBC, I loved the way all levels of farming were worked on and allowed by nature to flourish. Below ground, above ground and tree level were all used to grow food stuffs. Getting away from our high carb diet which uses vast amounts of land this farming technique highlighted, pulses, nuts, veg and berries as a more sustainable diet for a ever increasing population. less land for a bigger yield and a better diet.

A great article yesterday in the Independent looked to how numbers of Honey Bees globally are in mass decline. Pesticides a decline in flowering plants and parasites are all in debate to the cause. I want to highlight the point of nature and how the bees are the biggest pollinators of our food sources. Now how much money and resources would this take without the Bees!? Many monetary factors never include the amazing work done by nature, for free... It’s this resource that needs the most protection, without Bees we are fucked... Homo Rapiens.

Egg eating birds in the wild will always leave one egg in the nest, otherwise where will their food come from? We need to go back and relearn from our fellow animals.

Bum Note

This painting is referencing anti capitalist thoughts.

I am someone who feels that the expanding capitalist system is not the best all encompassing global philosophy that benefits humanity's well being.

It does seem that despite efforts, the gap between rich and poor is expanding. There's an article I know exists in an old issue of New Scientist that explains this "gap" will only increase with our residing state of politics. I need to get my hands on this essay...

Obviously, humans have always bartered and exchanged good for goods... I don't have answers, i have questions to explore and a lot to learn. But I do have a strong sense of ethics and know greed is probably one of our greatest threats. Bankers... Know thyself...

One for the People

This painting was created after myself and a group of students repainted a heavily graffitied wall.

The project is that of community spirit, intended to brighten up the lives of the local populace.

I think to prisons and other institutions where community projects do actually make a real difference to the people creating them and the residence of the area.

A real spiritual sense of fulfilment is enriched when we give our time and love to other people and things that effect other people.

I feel we need a real education into spiritual matters looking to being grateful to what we have instead of a culture where were shown "you need this to make you happy". Real happiness can be achieved by helping others.

Death of the Concept

I saw this tower block being pulled down and loved the bright colours of the remains of the lives of the people who had lived there; these colourful working class lives said something about poverty and colour.

This painting is also looking to comments flying around in the early 90s saying “Painting is Dead” This ugly little comment still rears it’s ignorant head every now and again, but I couldn’t put this comment farther from the truth. Painting is well and truly alive and flourishing in some new and wonderful ways.

A friend also pointed out the title referenced a book he had read where with the pulling down of many of these 60s tower blocks likened Modernism to have failed in social housing. The book is Charles Jenks, “The Language of Post-Modern Architecture” – The Death of the Concept. I can’t quote this as I haven’t read it, but intend to do some research there.