The Greatest Show On Earth

In my newly completed series, "The Greatest Show on Earth" I chose as the theme a small travelling circus during the 1930's depression era or the dirty thirties. Through this subject matter I wish to depict the emotional struggle we all face every day. In the 1930's the world was engulfed in poverty and tragedy, a result of the great depression. Today, not unlike then, homelessness is on the rise, we are stripping the earth bare of it's natural resources.

As with the clowns and circus performers we have a face we show to the world and a face we wear in private. Often the two faces are poles apart. We, as a society, don't see the man behind the mask.

The colours are vivid, the images bold and the work filled with emotion. Collaged backgrounds are dripping with circus posters and prints from the 1930's to add to the circus experience.

"Divertissement"
120 x 165cm

"Harlequinade"
145 x 100cm

"Linctus"
145 x 110cm

"Most Strikingly Novel"
180 x 120cm

"Strange And Savage People"
100 x 130cm

"Two Tents And Three Stages"
180 x 120cm

Péripatéticienne

“Peripateticienne”, depicting the life of 18th century French prostitutes. The colours are vivid with lush reds and opulent pinks splashed across the canvas. Graffiti dripping from the background, men and women indulging in opiates to numb the soul. Heightened emotions prevail and the strong bond between the men and women  of the night is evident in the work. At the height of Marie Antoinette’s reign fashion was of the utmost importance. The upper class women competed with each other for a place along side their regent in the fashion stakes. The lower classes were in a state of unrest, the revolution was brewing,  graffiti became a tool of communication between the masses and a way of voicing their anger.

Throughout the turbulence leading up to what we term “The French Revolution” the prostitute was a much sort after commodity.

A small selection of these works can be viewed below.

"Abime"
120 x 200cm

"Soothing Syrup"
100 x 165cm

"Opimane"
120 x 180

"Inertie"
200 x 75cm

"Benighted"
145 x 110cm

"Interlude"
165 120cm

Love and Honour

In Japanese society we see the obligation to keep ones ancestral name unspotted, jealously guarding family honour and integrity. Love to the individual is a spontaneous inclination but to family it was more demanding (what can a union bring to the family?). Love, Honour and integrity often led to despair when it floundered tragically and when battles were lost, these led to the ritual of seppuku (suicide). Traditionally before the act was carried out a death poem would be written.

The following books served as an inspiration for the series:

"The Manyoshu" 750AD, is the largest collection of poems in Japan and was compiled by Otomo No Yakamochi. It contains over 4500 poems.

"The Tale of Genji" by Murasaki Shikibu from the 11th century was the first novel written in Japan.

"The Heike" - A war tale from the 13th century.

"The Taiheiki" - Anonymous, written 1329 AD, is a history of barbaric days.

"The Kojiki" 712AD by Ono Yasumaro.

A small selection of these works can be viewed below.

"On The Melody"
165 x 100cm

"I Would Have Mourned My Loss Of Life"
145 x 110cm

"The one who cast herself"
120 x 165cm

"The Man I Loved"
200 x 75cm

"Overtaken By Darkness"
165 x 120cm

"If I Leave No Trace"
165 x 120cm