How does a surreal artist deal with the theme of “magic”?
Crossing the lines between the supernatural, the unexplained and the realm of science that is just “weird” offers up a rich visual spectrum of possibilities for a painting.
Spooky Action at Close Proximity — Stephen Gibb, 36″ x 24″, oil on panel, 2019
Taking straight-forward connections to magic words like magic 8-ball, magic mushroom, magic carpet, magic eye (vacuum tube), and combining them with tools of magicians and alchemists becomes a jumbled image of loosely associated items and characters.
Items like a tarot card, crystal ball, evil eye, ouroboros, an infinity symbol, gold, lead (pencil), cups, sword (dagger), coin, wand and voodoo doll all add to the mystical symbols that historically are linked to the performing of magic.
The coloured balls represent the four elements—earth, air, fire, water, while the left-hand-side hand represents black magic and the right white magic.
Science as magic is represented by Einstein’s theory of relativity, as he watches the baby traversing the sky in an arch, arriving as a corpse on the opposite side. Instead of a rabbit coming out of the hat we have a pair of rabbit-ears (TV antenna) which echoes the technology represented by the cathode tube, the egg-yolk light bulb and electric arc.
Is a surreal artist supposed to access their unfiltered subconscious or can their work be informed by content and concepts pulled from language and assembled in a compelling composition? Andre Breton would argue in favour of the former. I will defend my preference for the latter and let my painting act as support to my argument. Whatever side of the surreal fence you find yourself on, it all boils down to your own personal preference and willingness to accept that good things come in all sorts of packages.
Surreal artist performs alchemy
How does a surreal artist deal with the theme of “magic”?
Spooky Action at Close Proximity — Stephen Gibb, 36″ x 24″, oil on panel, 2019
Taking straight-forward connections to magic words like magic 8-ball, magic mushroom, magic carpet, magic eye (vacuum tube), and combining them with tools of magicians and alchemists becomes a jumbled image of loosely associated items and characters.
Items like a tarot card, crystal ball, evil eye, ouroboros, an infinity symbol, gold, lead (pencil), cups, sword (dagger), coin, wand and voodoo doll all add to the mystical symbols that historically are linked to the performing of magic.
The coloured balls represent the four elements—earth, air, fire, water, while the left-hand-side hand represents black magic and the right white magic.
Science as magic is represented by Einstein’s theory of relativity, as he watches the baby traversing the sky in an arch, arriving as a corpse on the opposite side. Instead of a rabbit coming out of the hat we have a pair of rabbit-ears (TV antenna) which echoes the technology represented by the cathode tube, the egg-yolk light bulb and electric arc.
Is a surreal artist supposed to access their unfiltered subconscious or can their work be informed by content and concepts pulled from language and assembled in a compelling composition? Andre Breton would argue in favour of the former. I will defend my preference for the latter and let my painting act as support to my argument. Whatever side of the surreal fence you find yourself on, it all boils down to your own personal preference and willingness to accept that good things come in all sorts of packages.
For more Canadian Pop Surrealism and Lowbrow fun try Stephen Gibb on Instagram