SON OF THE SUN (2014)

This painting is part of my Transformation Series, which expresses my thoughts and feelings about human life.  Since 2014, my mind has often been occupied by the process of transformation.  In this work I wanted to convey my feeling about the creative process and how it transforms experience.  I began with the idea of sunlight as my symbol for creativity because the Sun provides our world with the energy that creates life. I linked this with the idea of creative people, who are the source of new ideas, new modes of expression, new ways of looking at the world and new ways of communicating the familiar.  Therefore I called it "Son of the Sun".

My observation is that most people perceive the world in habitual ways that can become very stale - so they stop really "seeing" anything.  Whereas creative people constantly refresh the world by recreating it in new ways.  They do this by maintaining their inquisitiveness, seeking new experiences, and by learning to look at the world from different angles.  

Another part of this story is that my one of my neighbours is a carpenter and his workshop has many materials lying around.   For me it is a treasure trove and I like to forage there.  One day I saw the pile of wood pieces and asked if he needed them.  He is a very nice man and of course he said I could have them, but his parting words to me were, "these are the finest cedar roof shingles and I don't know how you're ever going to make a painting with them..."   After I finished the work, I invited him over for coffee and he said "never in a million years" could he have envisaged this painting from those cedar shingles...  He was amazed and delighted.  This man has the craftsman's ability and skill to transform wood materials into high quality practical objects for everyday life. But in his own words he could never have the vision or imagination to produce a work of art.  I want to say that the world needs every types of people.  I'm sure most people understand the necessity for the carpenter but I don't think most people understand or value the role of the artist.  I want to draw attention to the importance of creativity and creative people and the value they add to human life.  

A few words on my Transformation Series. All of the works have clear bands of primary colours that I use to represent the human child; pure, fresh, vibrant and full of life energy. In each work the primary colours become gradually mixed and transform into complex patterns of other colours. This is my metaphor for life unfolding. My idea is that as humans grow and develop they are influenced in many ways: by family, community, nationality, social culture, religious or political ideologies. External influences and life experiences transform them into very different beings. In childhood the rules like the colours appear clear and simple: this provides a sense of certainty and a perception of psychological security. As humans advance through life they experience greater complexity and uncertainty. Many life situations challenge cherished beliefs. Some people and some societies are open to this transformation and others are not.