How Many Political Figures Does It Take To Change A Light Bulb?

The political fermentation process is well underway. There is no escaping the fact that next May will soon be upon us and there are a few faces that we will all find very difficult to avoid. The current characters of British politics are readying themselves, brushing up on their body language, picking out their best suits, co-ordinating their ties, sharpening their tongues, simultaneously rehearsing their platitudes each morning whilst showering. If you happen to find yourself in Winchester over the summer, feel free to pop into the Jewry Street Gallery Art Café (opposite the Theatre Royal) and take a look at the political portrait exhibition ‘Machiavellian Boy Scouts and the Haphazard Art of Misdirection’. All the prominent boy scouts are waiting for you – Dave, Ed, Nick and Nigel, of course the ever present Boris Johnson hovers close by and thrown in for good measure President Barack Obama who declares his plans for life after his eviction from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

The exhibition is on until 2nd September at Jewry Street Gallery Art Café Winchester. 
http://www.winchester.gov.uk/events/details/10439/

Mark Michael

                                                                                         

You Must Pledge Allegiance To The Fruit

‘Migration From A Chinese Orchard’ was painted to capture the very hard choices, and disturbing decisions made by countless Chinese workers choosing to end their lives rather than continuing to work on harsh production lines. The potency of how others suffer for our latest upgrades is alarming, as the very thought of producing another slick gadget is too much for them to bare. It is harrowing when clocking off from work can translate into the permanent choice of punching your card and ending your life. This is not isolated to a single brand or lifestyle product, but seems prevalent throughout most of the items that we purchase today. 

For this image the landscape is split with the commanding ideal of a lush fruitful tree at its centre. The painting is divided, the murky green field of confusion and restlessness packed tight with frantic marks wading through a thick textured surface. This is at variance to the clear blue sky that offers escape, but ultimately the end, a person willing to take their life in the hope of finding a clearer sky.   

Migration from A Chinese Orchard
acrylic on canvas 120 cm x 150 cm

Mark Michael

Don't Lose Your Nerve

Don't Lose Your Nerve Acrylic on Canvas 90cm x 90cm

At first glance the composition of this painting appears straight forward, displaying an oblivious deer as prey unwittingly posing for death upon a gun carriage. This picture is more allegorical as it is not predominantly concerned with a hunter outwitting a target. I wanted to explore with this piece the anticipation, thought process, inclination, capability and conflicting urges experienced by the huntsman. When viewed up close the picture holds within it extra elements, there are several identical silhouettes of the hunter, moving up through the painting that are barely visible beneath the golden surface. These are included to illustrate that the pursuer is overthinking, visualising the process, but ultimately procrastinating in his journey towards the kill. The aggravated hornets’ nest is present as a significant threat from nature, which if permitted will, without warning act on pure instinct, leaving the huntsman to curse his indecisive nature.

Detail from Painting