 |
| "Love," by Ted Fullerton. |
Artist's Note
The phrase, "love is blind" is a statement written by William Shakespeare where the phrase suggests that love is not just based on appearances or external factors. In Gestalt theory “the whole is more than the sum of its parts” is its maxim which allows an idea such as love to extend beyond just a single factor within an inter-personal relationship. "You must love yourself before you can be able to love others," was a familiar expression I heard growing up. I have learnt from my experience that love extends itself beyond any personal, belief, ideology, or materialistic desire.
Love should consist of and engage in communication, trust, appreciation and mutual respect and I wonder why these inherent values cannot be practiced and expressed as a sustainable human trait among and with the “other”.
The flower is a common gift given to express affection and love to another. In my painting the Sunflower suggests this. The Sunflower has been a mythologized plant, as its blossom on a clear day follows the movement of the sun, while its shadow is kept behind. I have always liked this as an idea and an ideal. The two heads peering towards each other are outlined in red. Red is a colour that is immediately associated with love, and also transgression. The intent with their positioning and within the negative space that exists between them is suggestive of a vase - a single vessel created by their facial contour. Inserted at the bottom centre of the canvas is a three-dimensional representation of an iconic heart, further suggesting a palpable understanding or an “ideal” of love. What is not readily known - except by me - is that the process of creating this heart is called “cold casting,” implying that all loving relationships are not always lasting and can be deceitful and “cold hearted." The inserted canvas of the side profile of a head peering openly outward is intended to imply “eyes wide shut” - love is blind - and the yellow surrounding it symbolically eludes to enlightenment - “being in love."
The phrase, "love is blind" is a statement written by William Shakespeare where the phrase suggests that love is not just based on appearances or external factors. In Gestalt theory “the whole is more than the sum of its parts” is its maxim which allows an idea such as love to extend beyond just a single factor within an inter-personal relationship. "You must love yourself before you can be able to love others," was a familiar expression I heard growing up. I have learnt from my experience that love extends itself beyond any personal, belief, ideology, or materialistic desire.
Love should consist of and engage in communication, trust, appreciation and mutual respect and I wonder why these inherent values cannot be practiced and expressed as a sustainable human trait among and with the “other”.
The flower is a common gift given to express affection and love to another. In my painting the Sunflower suggests this. The Sunflower has been a mythologized plant, as its blossom on a clear day follows the movement of the sun, while its shadow is kept behind. I have always liked this as an idea and an ideal. The two heads peering towards each other are outlined in red. Red is a colour that is immediately associated with love, and also transgression. The intent with their positioning and within the negative space that exists between them is suggestive of a vase - a single vessel created by their facial contour. Inserted at the bottom centre of the canvas is a three-dimensional representation of an iconic heart, further suggesting a palpable understanding or an “ideal” of love. What is not readily known - except by me - is that the process of creating this heart is called “cold casting,” implying that all loving relationships are not always lasting and can be deceitful and “cold hearted." The inserted canvas of the side profile of a head peering openly outward is intended to imply “eyes wide shut” - love is blind - and the yellow surrounding it symbolically eludes to enlightenment - “being in love."