“In Praise of Folly – a polyptic of 6 canvases accompanied by a bronze figure (reminiscent of a motif repeated in each canvas). The work is inspired by a seminal essay of the same title, first published in 1511 by Erasmus; in which personified Folly narrates, using humour to denounce the contemporary power structures in support of humanism and rationality.
Viewers might recognise some observations on personal, relational and systematic perplexities and absurdities encountered in life, particularly as circumstanced approach instability.
The work is intended to mildly amuse, intrigue or simply delay the viewer; and pays homage to satire, caricature and cartoon. Obfuscate is used to tempt the viewer to reflect on their understanding of the narrative, and in so doing also reflect on the state of our world and their place in it.
I draw, paint and make 3D work using several media and materials. My work is frequently figurative, typically from imagination without models and hence vaguely distorted and transformed. The work sometimes leans on appropriation for semiotic enrichment. I might include text; sometimes to sublimate, sometimes to crystallise the viewer’s focus within the image.
Viewers might find the work vaguely reminiscent of illustration, photojournalism or graphic novels, in that these all punctuate ideas. However, there are no lucid or opportunistically captured stories. The works develop organically from the first marks and are perhaps most successful, when they surprise (especially me).The works develop organically from the first marks and are perhaps most successful, when they surprise (especially) me.”
