Concept for ceramic tableau titled,Trojan. ~ Tattoo Blog's

Trojan, (Detail of Eye) Ballpoint pen drawing; preparatory study in developing the concept for a ceramic sculpture that will be modeled, moulded and press moulded with hand built extensions.

The concept of this sculpture is based on the Greek Myth - the treacherous gift of the Trojan Horse. The story is well known - the horse made out of wood (an offering to Athena to render Troy impenetrable), encapsulates liberty within. Against this premise the initial preparatory drawings were made. The idea was to design and develop a form and shape of a horse that would symbolize power, anger and striving forward in great anticipation of the prize at the end of the race - total freedom. South Africans have accepted their new found freedom with great joy and pride, however many citizens are still bound by the stronghold of tradition. Fundamentalists and extremists are marching forth spurned on by the impact of globalisation.
Umberto Eco states in his new book, Turning back the clock, It is "almost as if history, breathless after the leaps forward made in the last two millennia, is drawing back into itself, returning to the comfortable splendors of tradition. (2008:4)"
Our extraordinary inclusive constitution paves the way for a free and open society, liberating itself from within - with every debate on topical issues such as marriage and abortion. This series of ceramic sculptures will explore the present dichotomy of our new found freedom (a precious gift) in dealing with 21st century issues - challenging our ways, our beliefs and our world view. Within the horses belly lurks the true libertine army, ready to pounce on hypocritical dragons that fester our society.

Trojan, (complete image) Ballpoint pen drawing; preparatory study in developing the concept for a ceramic sculpture that will be modeled, moulded and press moulded with hand built extensions. With reference to the the entry Horse in the book, An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Traditional Symbols, documented by J.C. Cooper, the horse is both a life and death symbol. The horse has featured often in the development of my work. The most significant being the blog's main image titled, The panoramic view of the end of the age. The work is based on the well known iconographically significant eschatological image as described in the Bible's book of Revelations; the four horses of the Apocalypse - war, death, famine and pestilence.

Reference material, for developing forms and shapes of a new sculpture.