I enjoy titling my paintings to anthropomorphize the subject of my work.
Recently I've become quite interested in the history, enjoyment, ethnicity and necessity of dance. Maybe because my Mennonite heritage doesn't allow such "sinful behaviour" of natural human movement and expression. Maybe because anthropomorphizing an object could be misconstrued as a multi-god worshipping kind of cult. But none-the-less, I am enjoying my exploration of this natural human liberation/release.
Some time ago I saw the movie, The Tango Lesson. I can't say that the movie was particularly compelling to me, but I was engrossed in the protagonist's desire to learn the tango. Then there's the movie, "Frida"... who can forget Salma Hayek's sensual tango with Ashley Judd?
I suppose the trees in the following two paintings were subconsiously born from my desire to learn and feel the dance... perhaps the dance of life.
It was only after the creation of the paintings starring these so-called "inanimate objects" that the titles came to me... perceiving the entwined Arbutus limbs as a somewhat seductive display of affection and closeness
Two to Tango 18"x36"
and the suggestive curves of this Arbutus as it yearns to wrap around the trunk of the Fir.
Shall We Dance 36"x12" [Lions Bay Art Gallery]
Funny, I met someone very recently who mentioned his desire to Tango. I'll have to remember to continue this conversation next time we talk.
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[I've recently had my website professionally remade by The Graphic Garden, but I haven't added titles or sizes to the site yet... these can be found on websites of the galleries that represent me (see side bar)].
