PDA

View Full Version : My work can be a little dark - an explanation...


minos_6
31st January 2006, 08:09
All of my art expresses emotions, both positive and negative. Sometimes it's my own feelings that are expressed, sometimes the emotions of others.

I draw on "what I know", and my life has been a bit of a soap opera at times, so the mood of the pieces can vary! For example, "Wamphyr" was deliberately controversial, to draw attention to World AIDS Day 2005.

I feel I ought to give you more of an explanation though, because "Man With Knife" and "Second Sin" are much darker and more raw than usual. I hope you don't mind if I do that.

"Man With Knife" - my "father" called me on New Years' Eve to say that he's not my father. I have two older brothers. My mother had an affair which resulted in pregnancy. Abortion and divorce are forbidden in the Greek Orthodox faith. He agreed to raise me as his own, but was extremely abusive to me throughout my childhood, until I left in 1981 at age 17. I never understood why until now. He also said that he often wished he'd taken my life, and was coming to London to do just that. He's 78 years old. I'm not too worried about it...

But he did evoke a lot of memories and negativity, and that resulted in these two pieces of work...

If you read the Odd Nerdrum quote below, I think I reached the extreme edge of Kitsch style with these two!

I hope no-one finds them too disturbing. I wouldn't want anyone to think I create this sort of thing as a pointless provocative exercise. Both images have a lot of meaning for me.

My mother's husband made me think of things I haven't considered for many years, and doing this work helped me to exorcise all that negativity. A few days later, I realised what a positive thing it is that I'm not related to this man by blood!

Looking at my pictures lets people get to know me a little, but by no means should any of you get the idea that I'm depressed, upset, or anything like that. I have a good life, and would like to think of myself as a calm, healthy, balanced and caring person :)

In addition to my artwork and job, I also work as a volunteer, a "buddy" for people diagnosed with HIV. A lot of the people I work with appreciate my art - they say I express things for them that they can't always articulate. I also receive many e-mails directly from my own website from people who tell me that they can identify with the emotions I express in my work, and that it helps them not to feel so alone. So I hope that what I'm doing has some value to others, as well as to me.

The next posting you will see is "back to normal", with similar themes to the main body of my work, but I can't promise never to be controversial again!

Warm regards,

Dzanetos

wile1
31st January 2006, 10:30
Controversial is good. But being depressed is not. So we worry when people seem to have a dark nature. But from the sounds of things you seem to have everything under control. And art is just a form of expressing yourself. It helps to keep you in balance by creating a means of getting rid of your negativity.

I have high hopes for you :D

Keep up the wonderful work Dzanetos

Lady of the Lake
31st January 2006, 10:48
And I, my friend, am still waiting for the one with the sunshine!!! :-)))) A promise is a promise. :snail: Teasing ya.

Lyla

AnnaKirsten
31st January 2006, 10:59
I feel this was a really good thing to do, putting an explanation here of your "darker" images, thus bringing understanding amongst the wider IT community.

Having "got to know you" a little through our PM's has been, for me, a wonderful experience, and yes, I think it's good that you are able to express yourself in such a poigniant way and to help others through your activities the way you do. As I've already said, you are a very special person, with so much thought and caring for others who go through some of the excessively difficult experiences of life.

Giving an explanation here also shows your sensitivity to those who might not have had any understanding of what lies behind your artworks, and this is much appreciated.

Keep your creative juices flowing, my friend! And remember your promise to Lyla!!! lol! One day perhaps....... :nod:

shadowwalker
31st January 2006, 11:26
Personally, I thank you. Although there are so many different types of styles and mediums here, I think that if a person really wants to be understood on certain trypes of images,, knowing a little about the artist puts things into perspective. As people who are artistic and wanting to express what they are going through or what they see through their images, sometimes a story is told through that medium and the wrong impression may be gathered without prior knowledge of what a person may have gone through or is going through. I think most members here develope a sense of belonging through the openess of each person. and I have found that whether posting here in the forum or a small blurb written under their image, you will find that people will take note and a person will get some kind of feedback with genuine concern and care. Taking a chance and reaching out in a community such as this, not only gives the members a chance to express themselves..but can give someone that little something needed for the day.
David

minos_6
31st January 2006, 16:20
Thank you for all the replies and encouragement here. Glad I posted this now :)

And Lyla/Nicky, I'm currently working on "Return of the Sun", which will finally deliver everything I promised... :nana:

Can anyone think of a word to rhyme with doom (other than gloom)? LOL

Dzanetos

vos
31st January 2006, 16:58
Bloom maby??????

minos_6
31st January 2006, 17:00
<grin> Still lots of :work: to do, obviously :)

Tripper
31st January 2006, 19:13
Broom.....seems apt......as you have had to brush aside many things my friend.
Graham

now dont get me started rhyming again LOL.

minos_6
31st January 2006, 19:49
Graham, you have an enormous talent with words my friend! ;)

When will we see verse with one of your artistic endeavours?

*searches memory* ... Forget I said that! LOL

wile1
31st January 2006, 21:10
Winters doom
Aprils gloom
leads to thoughts
of Mays sweet blooms

burma shave :rofl:

Nevermind you had to grow up in the 50's to understand that! :D

Lady of the Lake
31st January 2006, 21:20
okay: zoom, room, boom, loom...surely there are others. :-)))

Wile1.......I know the Burma Shave slogans!!! (sigh, telling my age) LOL

Lyla

classylady
31st January 2006, 23:06
I have to say I do admire you for addressing your concern here, we all do creations that fits our current mood , as for your personal problems
you already know how I feel. Take one day at a time, look forward never look back. I'm just so sorry all this has happened to you, not much fun is it

Just know we are all one big family here and concerned about everyone

It takes time and letting your emotions out in your art work is saying you are healing from the blow that was givin to you


Like I said you know how I feel and how to reach me.

Hugs Always:hug: :hug: :hug:

judee3d
1st February 2006, 04:13
I fully approve, though of course I know you weren't asking for approval, just giving an explanation. I think art can be a great catharsis for the soul, a creative way of working through problems as well as expressing emotions, both good and bad.

But I also appreciate being informed, as in this post. It gives even more meaning to the images. While the more positive, bright images can be easily enjoyed, the darker ones can disturb, can crawl under the skin and create questions and concern, even while appreciating the artistic side of them. Knowing the history behind such work makes it easier to understand, and in the understanding, takes away the unsettled feeling and leaves room for empathy to enter, empathy and a kind of peace, knowing that this was a good thing, to be able to express and burn out the darkness onto virtual canvass and thus leave room for light.

I would love to see people in general give more history of some of their images - not just the complex ones, but even the simple ones. A personal touch can bring so much more to an image.

Thanks for posting this!!

PS: Oh and I remember Burma Shave too. That was a brilliant marketing scheme, we still remember it so many years later.

wile1
1st February 2006, 10:55
Oh it definetly was a brilliant marketing scheme.

For those that don't know Burma Shave was a shaving creme and they put these roadside signs out on highways across america. They were little poems and you had to travel down the road and read each one then the last one said Burma shave.

One in particular I remember and will til my dying day! was..

Cattle Crossing
Means go slow
That old bull
Is some cows Bow
Burma shave

People use to take drives just to find those signs! :)

smokiejamz
1st February 2006, 16:43
Very well said Dan. And I like Trippers 'broom'. hehehehe! vroom? :rofl:

classylady
1st February 2006, 18:09
Oh wow nostalgia plus. lol................... yep me too...... judee