Kindergarten

Artist’s secret thoughts

The theme of these pieces are concerned with the primitive part of man’s nature, the violent side, the base component that does not want to show that 'he' is capable of 'feeling'. I visualise this idea using the fist motif emerging from the heart area. The heart within the body of the glass chest signifies that even with a hard exterior our ‘everyman’ has a softer gentler side albeit buried deep. In my effort to understand how my lovers mind worked, these works endeavour to visually represent the dualistic nature of violence.

This cathartic workstream is powerful in theme, but they are not nihilistic. In terms of the reasoning behind the concept one can ask what occurs when subconscious thought becomes conscious action - what is produced? Reactions to situations based on impulse and ‘heat of the moment’ consequently bring forth raw emotion. If acted upon this can end in a lack or loss of control over oneself. 'He's got a lot of heart…’ concerns raw internal emotions suggesting an explosive end culminating in actual physical violence or at least consequences associated with control loss.

My lover didn’t ever hurt me, he hurt others, and given more time he would have hurt me. The subject of temper and violence is important for me. My father used to hurt my mother when I was young, although his regret thereafter was palpable it was no excuse, and I wanted to explore these issues inside me in this artwork.