You will first notice the figures. I have cautiously been adding figures here and there, particularly for a period during my SAS1 work, but I have never studied the figure and rely only on what I can come up with in the moment. Needless to say the figures were not present in the field and were added for the narrative quality that a human presence affords. That being said I had in mind from the start of the process their position and the idea of a couple going home, so while I let loose on the field study I held back the bottom left and only gently sketched them in. Of course the goal is to render the figure with the same vigour as the rest of the work and that will come only with practice.
A real sense of energy you cannot fake, it seems to me and a by product of the quest for energy are curious inaccuracies of proportion and anatomy that come by painting with abandon. In how many Van Gogh works does one find distortion of the figure to the extent that cannot be put down to mistake or lack of knowledge of proportion? He makes his statement with intent and leaves it so, or so it seems but there is clearly a respect for the 'attempt', the 'try', an idea to include a feeling of 'failed trying' in the work even when
he is clearly capable of correction. But to correct lets the energy out. Instead he adopts the principles of Japanese draughtsman with true determination but without the 10,000 hours of repetitive study,2 resulting in highly original orthopaedic curiosities of the figure.
The speed of the work was fast as can perhaps be gauged by the way the paint sits. There is vigour yes but we need more variety to progress, more post impressionist use of colour and by that I mean using colour autonomously to make an area pop
The Brexit debacle drags on. Left reeling from it a few weeks ago I was forced to turn my back but I cannot avoid hearing the occasional snippet from the talking heads on the grey market TV service3 that I arranged for my elders in Norrtälje. They devour the Brexit like a sport, protesting wildly (everyday) about the idiocy, farce and manipulation. Appealing, remonstrating, for a decision, for an authority to set things right but there is no referee. The match is way out of control and there is no referee. In this battle power wins and the card played to blame parliament4 for the farce was my last straw, because, I think, that it was the killer blow or at least it signalled the change of course, a demonstration of the willingness to "win" at ALL costs.
Yes Yes, with that move the tory ship was set on course for the land of "no deal" whatever the very fuck that means I know not but why not listen to some experts? The consensus seems to be that it is devastating in very many predictable ways and with many unknowns into the bargain that may spell catastrophe. Look here, let me say once more that I have no love for the European project particularly, what do I know of it? Like most people over the years I have just been trying to live. No, the issue is that racism is dyed into the very fabric of the Brexit debacle. That is number one. Number two is that the conservative party will use Brexit to continue their frenzy of austerity and annihilation of society...it's what they do. Through a no deal brexit they will lay the groundwork for a garden of ugliness will grow over Great Britain for a hundred years! It is structural and it is happening now.
They will need to win a general election first of course which they will do by a ramping up of racist, divisive Trumpism led by the the Eton Trump, Boris Johnson. On that topic I must say one more (pass me another as Danny Baker used to say).5 The long, drawn out Tory leadership contest is a mirage designed to occupy and dominate the media until the deadline. You don't fool me you weasels! With all eyes on the final two candidates they coordinate and steer the rhetoric towards no deal. You know I am beginning to like Sweden more and more. There is no society Thatcher said before tearing society apart; closing mines, breaking up unions, privatising life. Well now the Lady will be for turning,6 in her grave, but not from disgust but to get a better view as the current crop of nasty tories lead the attack on the imaginary of the society. She said it did not exist,7 well that's not good enough for these lads - soon it may be impossible to imagine!
Oh good lord, please forgive my pessimism. You see, all this distraction from a 10 second snippet of sky news that could not be avoided. I wonder what you all make of it over here?8
My good sister has offered to cover the cost of an aeroplane to London for me to visit the Van Gogh exhibition at the Tate.
I will be taking a leave for a week to Bräcke in Jämptland where sambo's family have their stugan complex.
Granne Elisabeth made a studio visit and selected three canvases which she has taken home to see how they hang. Maybe a sale or two...?9
From the solitude of the field,
John
PS I feel I must apologise for my unfocused correspondence but let me also assure you that if we hold this course through the thought bog we are sure to reach some firmer ground in time upon which to tackle our themes. At least the canvasses continue to mount.
1 Stockholm Art Service.
2 Refers to Malcolm Gladwell's discredited thesis that it takes 10000 hours of practice to achieve 'expert status'.
3 John's parents have access to British Television through a legal but unofficial source. A common practice among expatriates.
4 Refers to a change in strategy by the Conservative party leadership of blaming the parliament of MP's for the problems and delays associated with brexit. The 'deal' was voted down on three occasions. Commonly thought of as a cynical move to gain popular support.
5 BBC radio personality.
6 "The Lady is not for turning" is a famous line from a speech Margaret Thatcher gave at the Conservative party conference in 1980, it relates to the question of whether Thatcher was about to go back on a decision - to perform a 'U-turn'. The full sentence reads: "You turn if you want to, the lady's not for turning."
7 Society
8 In Sweden we see that the system is broken and nobody is listening. We also have a SWEXIT campaign underway.
9 Elisabeth was to purchase, Work 5, Work 9, and Work 17.