A figure bowing. A figure filled with colour. A figure filled with colour bowing on a blood red field. Around the bowing figure on the blood red field are a series of words and questions. They discuss the place of the deity to the figure bowing and of the figure towards the deity.
This painting one of the first things you see when you walk into our home. You could say that it sums up where I was at the end of my theology degree. Am I still there? Somedays, yes.
Hard Rubbish Origins
The origins of The Supplicant came from a large crate that had been broken down and placed out for hard rubbish. Score! Of course, what to do with this score. Fortunately there was a four litre miss-tint of blood red paint from Bunnings. Artist tip: Always look out for the miss-tint’s at Bunnings.
At the time I was reading about Japanese Dada-ist Kazou Shigara who painted with his feet. Why not copy the masters? I was left with a unique background. What came next was time for inspiration. What did I see there? What did the background see in me?
We look at art and art stares back at us. We judge art and the art judges us right back. I saw myself, I saw a person in front of their God. I saw the head and the knees. The rest came quite quickly.
The Penitent Man
The penitent man kneels. We kneel before that which is greater. That which is beyond all that we could imagine. Before this sovereignty we kneel, there is no other option. Submission and worship the outcome.
Surrounding the Supplicant are statements and questions. Are you lost? Which is valid seeing the field of blood the supplicant is in. Is the shadow of your soul awakened by the weight of entropy? More the artists delight in lyrical and poetic melancholy than any theological discussion.
Any more input from the artist would lead to a discussion on the theory of Zim-zum, black holes and the place of God in relation to creation. Which is a rabbit hole that is best for another day. Art is a process that continues beyond the artist. So, it is best that as the artist, I leave the rest to you.
Phillip Hall has been too long in Melbourne to see AFL in the same light as those back in Fremantle. East Fremantle born and bred, he would love to see the Dockers back in the eight. But would settle for just beating West Coast twice a year.