CONTEMPORARY FIGURATIVE PAINTINGS by
RICHARD BAXTER
In this early painting, the text on the painting asks
"who will I be, when I am not me anymore?"
The question expresses anxiety about the unknown, and also a fear of death in
some form.
If I am not me anymore, then will I be dead? Will my old self die, or will I
still be me, but a changed version?
The questions asks what in fact is our essence? Is it ephemeral and
temporary, or is it unchanging and beyond the ravages of change and
uncertainty?
A woman runs screaming in panic, a face floating in the sky is half washed
away indicating change or one state breaking down and dissolving into another.
This figure is also connected by a sweeping arc, to a balloon, a symbol of
travel
and floating to new places. Change is occuring.
There is a double pointed arrow between the woman, and a gigantic manic
cartoon head in the sky, indicating the possible interchange between the two.
Will one change into the other? Are they connected?
And if one loses the self and floats too far away, would one end up in deep
space, beyond the planets?
title
'who will I be when I'm not me anymore?'
catalogue #
41
medium
oil on canvas board
size
date
1988
status
sold
CONTEMPORARY FIGURATIVE PAINTINGS
| CONTEMPORARY FIGURATIVE PAINTINGS by |
| RICHARD BAXTER |
|
|
| In this early painting, the text on the painting asks "who will I be, when I am not me anymore?" The question expresses anxiety about the unknown, and also a fear of death in some form. If I am not me anymore, then will I be dead? Will my old self die, or will I still be me, but a changed version? The questions asks what in fact is our essence? Is it ephemeral and temporary, or is it unchanging and beyond the ravages of change and uncertainty? A woman runs screaming in panic, a face floating in the sky is half washed away indicating change or one state breaking down and dissolving into another. This figure is also connected by a sweeping arc, to a balloon, a symbol of travel and floating to new places. Change is occuring. There is a double pointed arrow between the woman, and a gigantic manic cartoon head in the sky, indicating the possible interchange between the two. Will one change into the other? Are they connected? And if one loses the self and floats too far away, would one end up in deep space, beyond the planets? |
|