Work In Progress…..
by Bernie Bell - 08:02 on 18 February 2025
Work In Progress…..
It started when I saw an image on Robinson R.R.‘s Facebook page, of the new piece of work he was starting on…..
I liked it – I liked the clear ‘innocent’ wood.
Then Ralph said that…..
“As these sculptures are designed to be displayed in gardens they have to be proof against the weather. The first coat of primer has been applied, to be followed by an undercoat then a topcoat, then a decorative painting and finished off with two coats of varnish.”
I thought it was a shame to lose the wood – but – it’s his work, and so it’s entirely up to him what he does with it!
And then….he wrapped it all in black plastic and added spikey bits – under the title of ‘Propaganda’…..
…..with the words….
"Propaganda" a small boat sculpture.
Why do authorities say they want to 'stop the small boats' arriving when what they mean is they want to stop the people, the asylum seekers, arriving?”
Which led to the following exchange…
Me…
“I remember this when it was all innocent plain wood. As to your question - I presume it's rhetorical?”
“It is rhetorical, to be sure. Rhetoric is the studied art of persuasion and its honey-tongued practitioners know that it is easier to persuade people to stop an inanimate object arriving then it is to persuade people to turn away a human being. Hence the slogan (another rhetorical device), 'Stop The Boats!'.
And the 'Propaganda' title of the sculpture is used in the sense of misleading or deceptive information that is systematically spread by a partisan group. See 'othering'.”
Me…..
‘Othering’…..
https://theorkneynews.scot/.../seeing-people-as-non.../
https://theorkneynews.scot/.../when-people-put-people.../
The other word that comes to mind is 'Bondage' - with all its implications.”
AND THEN……
This image…..
With these words….
“Who knew before yesterday that our Ship of State, and each of those in Europe, was in bondage to the will of Presidents Trump and Putin.”
Which led to the following exchange….
Me…..
“I might be stating the bleedin‘ obvious, but here goes anyway…….My impressions are …this started as innocence – clear wood – moved on to being another ‘Small Boats’ piece. Now, with this image and your words, has become more a Ship of State – in bondage as, allegedly, Government representatives like to be sometimes (the film ‘Personal Services’ comes to mind).
The red behind it, and the shadows, emphasize the ominous feel of it. And – to me – the figures look like they’re wearing bowler hats - once, and maybe still, a symbol of bureaucracy and small mindedness. Maybe all just my fevered imagination – but….I wonder what the next instalment will bring?”
“Anything that anyone sees in the work is valid. The bottom line for me is that we are, and everything and anything is, fodder for the monstrous lusts and insatiable appetites of the power crazed. We present as scapegoats for them to appease their followers.”
And so – we start with innocence/clarity - move on to the boat people putting themselves in bondage to those who take their money to put them in the boats, then in bondage to the Authorities when they arrive at their destination.
The Authorities being in bondage to their overlords and their own baser impulses.
'Appen? Mebbe? Just throwing ideas into the ring.
Life in our times.
Work in Progress.
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