Title: “Cancer
on Society”
(Mixed Media)
120x61cm
THE IDEA BEHIND THE
PAINTING and Artistic techniques used in the painting:
Cancer has become increasingly prevalent
in our society in recent times. We all
have been touched in some way, either directly or indirectly by this
epidemic. My experience with cancer has
been through palliative care. I am by profession an Expressive Art Therapist
which allows me to use art as a counselling tool.
A cancer develops in an organism when
cells mutate and begin attacking healthy cells.
This painting shows corruption of matter. Corrupting the natural order -
cannibalizing - similar to the way that cancer cells attack healthy cells in
the body.
Humanity is presently at a liminal point
in time - an in between moment when things are changing rapidly in
a way never before imagined. The outcome
may be positive or negative and will to become evident with time. Both humanity and nature will be the driving
forces in determining the outcome.
While seeking an emotional map for all
this, humanity has to consider environmental questions raised by the exploitation
of nature for monetary gains, such as fracking, mining and logging, all of
which have resulted in obscene levels of degradation to the natural
environment. Humanity cannot live
without the Earth - in a sense the earth is humanity’s body.
The future also looks bleak on the
biological front . A recent book called
“Frankenstein’s Cat” by Emily Anthes, discusses how biotechnology is shaping
our future. Scientists are storing DNA
from the planet’s most exotic creatures.
On the positive side, they are cloning to protect endangered species,
craft prosthetics to save injured animals, and employ genetic engineering to
stock farms with disease-resistant livestock. However on the negative side, other
experiments have produced sensor-wearing seals, cyborg beetles, a bionic
bulldog, a cloned cat and GloFish which glow in the dark. She interviews scientists, conservationists,
ethicists, and entrepreneurs and raises moral and ethical questions such as “What
does biotechnology really mean
for this world?”
Are these scientific experiments not
similar to what cancer does – mutations replacing healthy organisms?” Has humanity gone past the tipping point? This is the dilemma raised in my painting “Cancer
on Society”.
This painting is in the style of Abstract
Expressionism. This artistic style expresses individual
autonomy and freedom in a manner that can be characterised as chaotic and
anarchic. Freedom in life is translated into
artistic liberty with an emphasis on gestural spontaneity.
Painting “Cancer on Society” was like making
an emotional map. It did not solve the
problems but it did externalize them and by so doing, the problems were then easier
to comprehend.
The title of this painting is
important to its understanding. The form
is two dimensional and flat. The tone is
neutral and monochromatic. The colours
are randomly mixed and covered with silver enamel spray.
It is an experimental painting. The final result which came about by accident
is really very aesthetically pleasing.
It is hoped that the outcome for humanity is as pleasing and successful. At this stage I think that we are looking
into Pandora’s Box. Will the benefits
outweigh the risks? I would invite your
comments.
