''Redemption Day Is Not Installed" seeks no forgiveness, just being...

A while back, I already shared a couple of blogposts on my fascination for rodents and rodent-like creatures, especially rabbits and hares. They have played a significant part in my artwork and keep on doing so. Such is the case with my series ''Redemption Day Is Not Installed'', which also deals with another recurring theme in Witty Art: guilt and redemption.

Guilt is a theme, I explored before in series such as ''H.U.R.T.'', ''Unforgiven'' and ''Blame'' and has fueled a lot of The Singles as well. This time I wanted to take a step further and take different approach. To add more layers of depth by using not only ink and watercolors but by using pencil, charcoal and conté crayon as well, playing with both the softness and the harshness of each medium.

I wanted to visualise the uncompromising character of guilt, especially undeserved and (often) self-inflicted guilt and how it's almost impossible to break free of it. And how to redeem oneself can be an obligation that has the potential to turn into a burden itself.

I hope I have managed to achieve all that with this series. Personally, I think I did and that ''Redemption Day Is Not Installed'' is one of my most powerful series of artwork I have made so far. And as the images are so strong, and the issues addressed to me are extremely meaningful, I will definitely say I will continue to work on this series for a long, long time to come.

Perhaps, untill my very own Redemption Day is near...  

The Blame Game & Taking the Guilt Trip: new series ''Blame'' depicts all that and more...

 

The concept of 'blame' plays an important role in my work. Guilt and blame, to be precise. Partially because of reasons far too personal to talk or write about here, partially because of the more psychological aspects of the phenonemon.

It is, as far as I'm concerned, a re-occurring theme in Witty Art, sometimes clearly visible and tangible, most of times more like a some form of abstract presence, lingering and even lurking in the background. Well, that's how someone once described it to me - and I can definitely relate to that.

It's present in, for instance, my series "H.U.R.T." and ''Unforgiven'', the latter specifically triggered by a quote from Fyodor Dostoyevsky's classic novel ''Crime and Punishment'': 

''To go wrong in one's own way is better then to go right in someone else's.'' 

Now, there is another series in the making which deals with the same topic, albeit in a different way, taking a different approach. Whereas, to me, both "H.U.R.T.'' and ''Unforgiven'' are much harsher, violent even on an deeply emotional level, ''Blame'' depicts the feeling of being blamed, aside from whether you are guilty or not. It's about the someone playing the blamegame on you and you taking the guilt trip.

''Blame'' was also partially inspired by the song with the same name of one of my all time favourite bands, The Afghan Whigs: ''Blame, Etc''. As with all of their songs, the raw energy of both their music and lyrics speaks to me on many, many levels.

I took the liberty of embedding a YouTube link to this song, so you can play and listen for yourself. As I said, to me it's not just the pulsating rhythm, haunting guitars and frontman Greg Dulli's grinding voice, but it's the combination with the lyrics that makes their music so powerful to me. 

''Blame, deny, betray, divide
A lie, the truth
Which one shall I use?
Whatcha gonna do?
I know
Whatcha gonna do?
I know, I know, I know"
Words & Music: Greg Dulli 

For those who'd like to read the whole lyrics, please click here. 


 
All I can say, that The Whigs' music has been with me for many years now and it has helped inspire the creation of much Witty Art Work - and I can absolutely state with 100% certainty it will continue to do so for the rest of my life.

Greg Dulli and The Afghan Whigs still perform and tour regularly. 

'Series' page updated with ''Unforgiven'' and ''Mummies' Dearest''

Just updated the 'Series' page, adding a two piece created last year: ''Unforgiven'', and a whole new series I only recently started, called 'Mummies' Dearest.'' 

You can view the whole updated Series page by clicking here. ''Mummies' Dearest'', being the most recent series, will appear at top; for ''Unforgiven'', please scroll down a bit further.

About both series:

''Mummies' Dearest'' is all about a Mummy's enduring, all-consuming love for ''her'' little ones. Perhaps, not at all very healthy love - but, nonetheless, still love. And in a cold, heartless, even dystopian world, any bit of love will do.

''Unforgiven'' was highly inspired by a quote taken from the book ''Crime and Punishment'', a creation of the great Russian writer Fyodor Dostoyevski:

To go wrong in one's own way is better then to go right in someone else's.

For now, I consider this two-piece to be finished, but you never know, I might change my mind in the future and some new images will appear in my mind.