Pandemonium

( Size: 27" x 36" Oils )

As the title suggests, pandemonium - the abode of all demons. Take into account as an example the last one hundred years, a century of man's obscene ventures into world domination. Talking mainly of the super power nations suppressing weaker societies, eliminating and annihilating their beliefs and cultures for their own ends. I would suggest that man has created his own unique brand of "PANDEMONIUM" here on Earth and in more ways than imaginable.

Subjects in the painting:

The Cenotaph

I have tried to express my views by venturing down one avenue created solely by man. The memorial to the dead by tribute channelled through that visual monumental medium, the CENOTAPH, only obtainable after the taking of life. An object to memorialise death, aiding the sanctioning of the glory of war. As an example the customary tribute to our forefathers through prayer to the ubiquitous "Unknown Soldier". War breaks out after attempts to communicate are abandoned, there are casualties, and avoidable futile taking of life. In these circumstances the above do serve a purpose; honouring the dead in this way is a valid avenue to display grief and release pent-up emotions and also as I comprehend the situation a proportion of guilt .

We, as so called intelligent life forms, could and should be more positive. Working toward an objective, so that man's infatuation with creating death (culminating with the desire to create an atmospheric funereal 'celebrating' by en-mass gatherings before Cenotaphs) becomes a thing of the past, making these monuments extinct. My own view on this subject is that in a round-about-way, cenotaphs depict man's failures within society and total disregard for all life on our precious planet.

Are there any monuments solely worshipped for the living or lasting peace ? When man reaches a level where wars become ancient history and peace runs endemic through nations, then I feel man would reward himself with the honour of eradicating (by removal) all memorials to war. The seeds have been sown and set in motion as one can see in the policies between nations of Europe. The tension and futility of war have been recognised, peace has broken out.

The Poppy

Not simply naturalistic or decorative but chosen for its more traditional symbolic meaning, DEATH. This I feel is so unwarranted. A delicate creation of nature has been smitten with the stigma of death by war, conjuring up negative mind's eye scenes reminiscent of the stench of blood fused with the aroma of cordite strewn across the battlefields of Flanders etc.

The Three Crosses

Not only depicts those brave men and women who died for their beliefs and cultures on the battlefields of freedom, but is also synonymous with Christianity, the holy trinity, the crucifixion, the three wise men, and so on.

How many wars have there been in the name of religion ?

There have even been heated arguments and high level debate over the wearing of the white poppy alongside the red poppy on various remembrance days. People who fought the same side, for the same ideals creating divisions amongst themselves ! They, 'the Red Poppyists' whilst honouring their dead comrades, stand bowed encircling their Cenotaph, their thoughts exhume the terrors of man's legacy of genocide. Why not allow the White Poppy to acquire a quiet presence, originality may create a universal remedy to peaceful continuity and global integration, thus creating deep long lasting new alliances ?

E.W.Powell, 6/12/90

Complexity comment:
Monuments to the reign of mankind vary from the monstrous to the uplifting. The same species that created mass murder under the euphemism 'ethnic cleansing' created also The Sistine Chapel, The Blue Mosque, The Taj Mahal, all works of love for a God of Creation. To create we must also destroy, by recycling materials or ideas. To justify any such act requires 'value add', the result must be an improvement over the original, the added value compensating for the conversion (recycling) cost.

What is important is 'better' not just 'different', in fact it is variety itself that generates the improved choice, by allowing comparisons and trials. Jonathan Swift satirised the insistance on trivial rules in Gullivers Travels, as early as 1726, where wars were fought about the 'right' end to open an egg (an arbitrary choice, neither way added value). Have we really learned nothing since ??