‘Escape!‘ is a portrayal of the longing to escape the constrictions of the modern world, or a journey of evading the tolls of modern life. The stick figure is a representation of the human, void of class, gender, and race, to become a symbol of the ‘hero’, running from the confines of the painting.
Each piece represents part of the journey, telling a story of the road to independence. The series intends on offering a positive representation on free will and the ability to create one’s own fate. Multiple paintings were necessary in doing justice to this grandiose theme. Typically, the theme of my work is more ambiguous, allowing for a multitude of interpretations.
Escape!
Acrylic, oil stick, oil, and newspaper on canvas
In the title piece Escape! we see the initial step our hero takes in order to escape the world they are confined to. The design of the stick figure jumping out from the box is taken from an illustration by Pippo Lionni, a designer, jazz musician, and former student of philosophy and mathematics from Paris. I also included images of rusty pipes that represent the hidden networks of pipes and wires that lie beneath walls, ceilings, and floors, much like the veins and arteries in our bodies. The rust represents decay, and relates to the organismic nature of beings which will inevitably be destroyed. Another interpretation of this work is that the hero is running from their own mortality.
Capital
Acrylic, oil stick, and newspaper on canvas
Capital represents the initial jump into the limbo. I chose to etch the word ‘CAPITAL’ into the multiple layers of the background of the work to evoke the underlying presence of capital in our modern society, its acquisition being one of the fundamental driving forces of everything we do. The train represents the constancy of progress, which is fuelled by capital. By representing this notion, the hero becomes aware of the nature of capital and learns to evade its domineering presence.
Night Sea Journey
Acrylic, oil stick, and newspaper on canvas
Night Sea Journey uses the journey of Hercules and the image of a camel to represent the many hours of discipline and dedication that goes into the journey. ‘The Night Sea Journey’ is a significant episode in the mythological tale of Hercules. In this part of the story, Hercules embarks on a perilous voyage to retrieve the golden apples of the Hesperides, which are guarded by a dragon. To reach the garden where these apples are located, Hercules must sail across the Oceanus, the world-encircling river that surrounds the Earth. This piece also includes the recurring motif of the rusty pipe, referencing our organismic natures and inevitable destruction.
Roll the Dice
Acrylic, oil stick, oil, and newspaper on canvas
And finally, the dice in ‘Roll the Dice’ represents the luck or chance of escaping. In this part of the journey, I was trying to suggest that one creates their own luck by taking the initial chance. With enough dedication and persistence, escaping can be achieved.
In creating this series, I hope to engage the audience by telling a story. I hope that one could see themselves in the figure occurring throughout the works and relate it to their own life’s journey, finding solace in the long, winding road to freedom.
Tom Allwinton Art 