Elements - Avast Matey - G Giuliani Art

Elements – Avast Matey

This work could just as easily have been called ‘freedom’ or ‘living life’.  The subtitle ‘Avast Matey” tries to capture that. This is the second piece in my transpose series, and offers a clearer intent round the idea of transposing different perspectives onto an objectified background.

The first thing I had to do is to choose the content of the background. Since the first work in the series (Briny – Blimey) presented what looks like a sail at sea in obscure monochrome I decided, by way of contrast, to use a three masted ship and paint it accurately in accented monochrome.  As I completed the particulars of the image I started to identify with the forces of nature at play on and around the vessel. So when the form was done I started to impose some abstract forms onto the painting keeping in mind the elements of nature that we're moving me. As I started to play with some possibilities and move them around different locations I came to a format that seemed to speak to what I was feeling.

When I looked at the work after it was done some of these feelings congealed in my own mind so that I could put some words to them. That seems to be the way it always happens in my process: I trust my intuition and the words come later. My words may not be your words as you observe the work so I won't articulate them here. But what did happen was the strong sense of dynamic between the ship (and likely those on it) and nature itself. It's like a free interplay of these energies and the acceptance and risk of the consequences. It's like a freedom to surrender and accept the living of life fully and a trust in whatever unfolds.

For me freedom is not license. It's not about doing whatever one wants and not having to bear the consequences. It’s more about a willing commitment, responsibility, and accountability. It's about giving to life everything you have, knowing there's a much bigger picture that you might only be able to see in hindsight.