WHO'S LAUGHING NOW?

1220 x 800

As political correctness spreads, shutting down debate and threatening the democratic freedoms prior generations fought and died for, artists, cartoonists, writers - creators generally - are fast becoming an oppressed minority. This painting features my son Julian as 'The Artist', bound and gagged but bravely eye-balling his detractors. The musical connection is to The Joker Song, from the 2019 movie ("script all your comedy with paper stained in crimson!").  When folks realise our freedoms are gone - the only one laughing will be the crazy person.

SOUND OF SILENCE

1220 x 800

To me, the key is in the line "silence like a cancer grows". One 'cancer' of modern life is domestic abuse, and indicators are that the problem is getting worse in this covid era.  Don't be silent.

TAKE ME TO CHURCH - SOLD

1220 x 800

The sweet innocence of blossoming love ... portrayed against the archaic, blinkered intolerance of a crumbling, decadent church.

MELTING POT

1220 x 800

Take a pinch of ... cultural appreciation. Wrap it up in ... tolerance. Well, my take on this classic song is that instead of churning out coffee coloured people by the score, we should simply celebrate and honour individuality and allow everyone the freedom to be exactly who and what they want to be - regardless of current trends. Featuring Madeline Bell from Blue Mink.

Of note:   This painting came to the attention of the beautiful & gracious Madeline Bell who sent positive comments and gave my work the thumbs up.  Perhaps my work will help ensure the song and its controversial banning in Britain will be remembered & talked about into the future.

CHANGIN' TIMES - SOLD

1220 x 800

Timeless - never have the themes and messages in this Dylan classic been more pertinent. I've backgrounded my take on Dylan during his Rolling Thunder tour circa 1975 with hand-drawn and painted images from the four big issues of our times - Extremism, Covid, Climate change & Black lives matter. 

OTHER WORKS

TAKING TIKANGA TO THE WORLD - SOLD

MOB RULE   700 x 550 - SOLD

Based in part on a speech by Rowan Atkinson on the importance of freedom of expression, and the need for robust dialogue. At Saligia Studio/Gallery we uphold the basic human right to freedom of expression for all artists.  The freedom to imagine, create and put forth opinions, the right for all to access artistic expressions, free of censorship,  and take part in cultural life – represents one of the key issues for democracy.

THE SELFIE - SOLD

1450 x 950

During the trip of a lifetime to Europe I saw, among many fabulous treasures, Jacques-Louis David's massive"Napoleon Crossing the Alps painting. The Belvedere in Vienna was also packed with visitors ... many of whom spent more time snapping selfies in front of famous paintings rather than studying the artwork themselves. So my reworking of David's famous work was a tongue-in-cheek social commentary. Two people - across history, each posing for their audience.  I've portrayed Napoleon frowning at the frivolous young girl daring to steal his limelight.

LET'S DO THIS - SOLD

Touching on Jacinda Adern & Labour's promise to put children at the heart of everything it does, with some cool tags by neighbourhood children and a reference to the reality of coalition politics ... Adern  presents a smiley face and talks well - but is she just a show puppet?  time will tell.  NZ has very high rates of child abuse.

ORIGINS     (artist's collection)

Four religious leaders, all representing organisations which demean, marginalise or suppress women.  A satirical painting, pointing out  the obvious - where do these men think they come from, and where would they be without us women?  

THE THREE BITCHES  - SOLD

600 x 450

During the 'laying off' of middle aged men in the recent downsizing of newspapers - my partner - the ex deputy editor of the Nelson Mail, came home one day and mentioned the guys were calling the three girls doing the firing 'The Three Bitches'.

This painting shows the women responding to being called bitches, and in the background historic pics on the torture & abuse of women - simply for being strong in a mans world.

MAKE BELIEVE    (artist's collection)

The wonderful imagination of children.  The little boy standing on Pippi's pony tale and pointing up at a religious proverb - 'Folly is bound up in the heart of a child and the rod of discipline shall drive it from him'.  This belief in stark contrast to the theory put forward by Albert Einstein where the imagination of children should be celebrated and fairy stories are a must.  Einstein stated imagination sparked free thinking & intelligence.  I guess religious leaders want their followers to follow God's word and not have their own thoughts - group thinking.   In my view the rod of discipline should be taken to the adults who bring children up to discriminate and sit in judgement of those who are different.

JACINDA - THE WEEPING MADONNA - SOLD

Adern's response to the 2019 Mosque attack was heartfelt, however donning a black headscarf as a show of solidarity  sparked backlash as critics pointed out women in muslim countries were forced to cover up - with their freedoms severely limited.   Adern's show of compassion was surely genuine - but why has the artist portrayed her as the 'weeping madonna' ... a symbol of religious fakery?

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SONNET 116 - SOLD

ELUTHARIA - SOLD

Born again, naked & free - without the hindrance of organised religion and group thinking.  The owl  represents the death of free thought.  The old woman on the right holding her blood-red cross represents the old-school, conservative view that free-thinking artists are "sinners". This painting won a national award in 2014.

FEAR - SOLD

LILITH - SOLD

It's the 'untold' Adam & Eve story.  Before Eve there was Lilith - Adam & Lilith were created as equals, and during sexual relations at times she wanted to 'be on top'.  Adam wasn't happy with that - he wanted to be on top.  They fought and eventually Lilith flew away from the imperfect Garden of Eden.  Then came Eve, created from man and subservient to Adam - man's helper. You know how the story goes....

THE MAORI MONA LISA - SOLD

A tribute to one of the pivotal figures in Nelson history, Huria Matenga. Depicted in a Mona Lisa-type setting, plus modern-day rescue imagery, along with the February 2018 storm that came close to destroying Nelson's iconic Boat Shed Cafe. This references Matenga's role in the heroic rescue of crew of the sailing ship Delaware in 1863.

ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE   1100 x 550 - SOLD

We're all playing a role ... some better than others.

CONSTANTINE   600 x 460 - SOLD

Based on the Obelisk in Basilica Square erected to the glory of Constantine and the Catholic Church. Considering the church's horrific history of abuse, the artist sees this obelisk as a phallic symbol representing the so-called power and glory of men.

THE SAD SUNFLOWER   550 x 440

This little girl isn't wanting her cup cake, she's wanting her mum's attention.

BINDINGS - SOLD

THE INSUBORDINATE WOMAN - SOLD

LET ME BE - SOLD

One of my more personal paintings - While visiting my beautiful grandson Cooper at Ronald McDonald House in Christchurch, I was in the children's room one day working with Cooper on an artwork.  A small girl was present, and all conversation focused on God - she was home schooled and heavily indoctrinated with scripture.   She knew more about religion than myself and had a learned answer for everything.  A lovely girl, however the encounter left me feeling very sad.  Nothing she said or drew was based on her own original thinking. It reminded me of the way people are indoctrinated, told what to think, in oppressive states like North Korea. She was a walking bible ... and she seemed so confident that her ability to quote biblical references was making her parents proud!

In the painting:   'LET ME BE' - I want to think for myself - I am not a puppet.    In the background is imagery from a 16th Century codex manesse - teaching archaic religious views. Interestingly, the painting was bought by former president of Starbucks International Howard Behar who viewed it while holidaying in Nelson. 

5.5 TRILLION DEGREES CELSIUS - SOLD

My take on the big bang theory ... science says that 5.5 trillion degrees Celsius is the point at which life begins (based on experiments using the Hadron Collider, and credited with exploding the "God" creation myth).

THE MUSE - SOLD

A work intended as a study showing the creative and drawing process ... I intended it to stay unfinished.  An art lover was so taken with the work that she had to have it as is.

FASHION CRIMINAL  -  1000 x 550

Inspired by tattoo tourism, fashion industry cultural appropriation, and an app designed by the Maori University allowing people to apply digital kirituhi (non-traditional moko) to their images.

THE DANCER   700 x 550

Exploring the dangers of group thinking, contrasting with the joys of freedom.  

BLASPHEMY
DAMNED FOR ETERNITY

The following works are from the exhibition named above, which was held in Auckland and Nelson - 2011. All the works have sold.

THE ADAM PAINTING

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GOD'S ADORATION OF LADY DIVINE

CHRIST'S BRIDE

1200 x 600

Based on the book by the priest Bernard Fresenbourg - 'Thirty Years in Hell' - an expose of the "slippery and deceitful path of abhorrent Catholicism" (his words).

ADAM AND EVE

650 x 500

The Bible blames woman for original sin, but we all know who and what the real serpent was in the Garden of Eden!