Tag Archives: Russia

Who was the first man in space? – Work in progress

Young men from opposing political viewpoints expand scientific and exploration boundaries for political kudos – but they were exciting times. Bring back the cold war – the world was a safer place and more interesting.

The Cold War was the period of history from roughly between 1946 and 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States and its allies. Although the chief military forces never engaged in a major battle with each other, they expressed the conflict through military coalitions, strategic conventional force deployments, extensive aid to states deemed vulnerable, proxy wars, espionage, propaganda, conventional and nuclear arms races, appeals to neutral nations, rivalry at sports events, and technological competitions such as the Space Race.

Cold War. (2011, December 2). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 11:43, December 4, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cold_War&oldid=463632314

Work in Progress

Triumphant Adventure

ARTIST + S T A T E M E N T …

The political and ideological polarity of Russia and the USA during the cold war (retrospectively) makes an interesting starting point for a new project. Apparently there are rumors that the early days of the Russian space program were not only motivated by military and scientific advancement but a search for a new world to populate – to put citizens of the Russian Republic on once they had realized their ambitions of ensuring immortality. There was no God in Russia (officially) and the USA put their trust in God, both were chasing the same dreams, immortality and history. Gagarin achieved both by  becoming a God (hero) in his own country and the rest of the world – all gods die young.

As an 11 year old I watched the first moon landing in 1969. I was mad about everything to do with space travel, I would read anything that was about rockets, cosmonauts and astronauts. Later in my life I shook the hand of a man who shook the hand of my all time hero Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin, that was for me like touching history, if only secondhand (excuse the pun).

I was rummaging through old boxes of stuff and found the newspaper cutting of an astronaut on the moon – yellowed and faded – it still makes my heart flutter. I wish I’d been to the moon.

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The Hare with Amber Eyes

Cover of "The Hare with Amber Eyes: A Fam...

Cover via Amazon

The Hare With Amber Eyes: A Hidden Inheritance, is a book about ‘the history of objects’ or in this case a collection of objects, an inherited collection of Japanese netsuke.

Objects take on a life of their own when they leave the creators hands. They are no longer the responsibility of the artist (craftsman) – they move through history, out surviving their custodians, moving on through history and catastrophe.

 Tiny and tactile the netsuke are “small, tough explosions of exactitude.” Their story spans cultures and continents. They are the possessions of the Ephrussis, wealthy Jewish grain traders who spread from Russia to the important, wealthy capitals of Europe whose empire is finally destroyed by the Nazis.

These objects tell a fascinating story about the way the world has been molded by the need for commodities and trade, greed, war and jealousy.

Art is a commodity, a product of capitalism.

Woodcuts – Printmaking – Nude

Nude (woodcut print) This series of woodcuts is still available to purchase with a few more remaining. Originally  exhibited in the 150 Building at West Buckland School in North Devon during June and July 2011. This woodcut is printed over … Continue reading ?