THE PAINTING I CURRENTLY HAVE HANGING IN OPUS GALLERY NEWCASTLE IS CALLED ‘AN EXPLOSION OF LIFE N DEATH’
IT IS NINE FEET WIDE AND 3.5 FEET HIGH..
IT IS IN THREE PANELS AND FEATURES 3D ELEMENTS ALONGSIDE HAND PAINTED ELEMENTS. .
I HAVE USED MANY TRADEMARK SYMBOLS IN THIS PIECE, MY WORK IS ALL ABOUT DOUBLE MEANINGS AND CONFLICTING CONTRADICTIONS. . .LIFE MEETS DEATH, INNOCENCE MEETS CYNICISM, POLITICS MEETS RELIGION, WAR MEETS DECAY, HOPE MEETS DESTRUCTION ETC. . .
WE SEE THE CROWN OF THORNS, THE CROWN THAT WAS PLACED ON THE HEAD OF CHRIST ALONGSIDE A PLASTIC HOTDOG, WE SEE A BANANA NEXT TO A HUMAN BONE, WE SEE A TARGET ALONGSIDE AN ANIMAL SKULL, A TOMATO FLOATING OVER A RIBCAGE,WE SEE COBWEBS WITH PLASTIC FOOD,US DOLLERS AND REAL KNIVES. .
ALWAYS MY WORK IS ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ELEMENTS . .
A SPIDER WEB IS FOOD FOR A SPIDER BUT DEATH FOR A FLY. .
WE SEE ANTIQUE CRUCIFIXES AND A BULLET. .
THE VIEWER GOES ON A JOURNEY ACROSS THE CANVAS, READING THE SYMBOLS AND THEIR MEANINGS AND AN ARGUMENT IS OPENED UP, WHY IS THIS HERE, WHAT DOES IT MEAN NEXT TO THIS ETC.
I LIKE TO ALLOW THE VIEWER TO LET THEIR OWN ENTERPRETATIONS COME INTO THE PIECE, I WONT SAY WHY I PLACE AN ELEMENT NEXT TO ANOTHER, BUT I WORK ON INSTINCT.
EVERY PIECE OF COLOUR IS ON PURPOSE, THERE IS NO ACCIDENT.ITS ALL ABOUT BALANCE.
I START A PIECE WITH COLOUR, USING INDUSTRIAL HOUSEHOLD PAINTS AND SPRAYPAINTS TO BUILD UP A BASE, USING EMOTION AND FEELING, UNTIL IT FEELS RIGHT.
I THEN START WITH AN ELEMENT, WHICH MAY BE A IRAQI DINA (CURRENCY 0 OR A CRUCIFIX, A SKULL OR A KITCHEN KNIFE, THEN THE JOURNEY BEGINS AND THE PAINTING STARTS.
I HAVE PERSONAL LINKS WITH THE ELEMENTS, LIKE ST GUADALOUPS IS A VERY MEXICAN ICON, AND I WAS IN MEXICO EARLIER IN THE YEAR, BUT IT ALSO WILL REFER TO RELIGION AND CATHOLISM, I WAS ALSO BORN A CATHOLIC. . .BUT IM NOT RELIGIOUS AT ALL.
THE POPPY IS ANOTHER TRADEMARK ELEMENT I USE, ITS LIFE, BUT ALSO SYMBOLIC OF DEATH, THE POPPIES THAT GROW IN A FIELD AFTER A BATTLE ETC, THE BRITISH HAVE A DAY EVERY YEAR CALLED POPPY DAY, TO COMMEMORATE THE SOLDIERS WHO FOUGHT IN WW1. .
A TOMATO IS INNOCENT, LIFE, FOOD, NATURE ETC, BUT IT WILL DECAY ALSO, LIKE THE RIBCAGE, DEATH IS OMNIPRESENT.
THERE IS A PHOTO OF A WOMAN, A GIRL, WHO WAS SHE? IS SHE ALIVE? IS SHE DEAD?
ITS SINISTER.
I LIKE USING CANDY HAPPY POP COLOURS TO ATTRACT THE VIEWER BUT I LIKE TO LEAVE THEM ALSO FEELING ON EDGE, ITS A FINE BALANCE BETWEEN THE BEAUTIFUL AND THE SINISTER.