"A Cut Above The Rest Part 1"

2013.06.14 By Robin Gillow

We used to live in a perfect world. As individuals, many do their best to preserve and protect our planet. Each considers his or  her efforts good enough. However, despite this we continue to destroy our environment as if we own it and ‘us’ its master. And if each of us will not be held liable in failing to contribute to the betterment of our surrounding, then it is simply like transferring our extra baggage to someone else’s shoulder.

This lack of true understanding or brainwashed belief that somehow things will be okay because as individuals (perhaps) we are at least making an attempt to recycle is a myth. Not one of us does enough. How many of us follow fashion, drive to the local store, have more than 3 pairs of shoes, leave lights on when not in use, discard more than one dustbin full of garbage, mostly packaging or unwanted food, in a week or for that matter a month? The list goes on and each of us, particularly those in so called civilized environments continue the destruction on a par with madness.

It is due to this frustrating parochial view that I began cutting my paintings up.

Destroying their completed perfection – just as we do to our world, I recycle the works, adding to the original story. This in turn helps me to get my message across on a more readily readable level. I encourage the viewer to stand back, re-assess their environmental contribution, and hopefully disturb them enough to make them rethink their involvement in the planet’s preservation.

A typical example of this is my painting titled FRACTURED VIEW. It started out as a portrayal of my local beach devoid of its human destroyers bar the umbrella evidence of humanity and its obvious pomposity (the yachts). A pleasant view, quiet, relaxing, sun filled and happy yet the underlying message is symbolic of our lax attitude to the global problem.

Original Work-- Fractured View

 

Recycled Work-- Fractured View

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