THERE are shades of Rubens’s original but Richard Kelly has allowed his imagination to run riot in his depiction of 'Lust', the second of his triptych The Rising of the Cross – Rubens and Beyond.
Last year he completed and exhibited the large middle section named Compassion, a powerful muscular work as the Cross is raised into position. He has followed this with Lust, the first of two side panels; Violence is soon to be started, again based on the work of Peter Paul Rubens, the Flemish painter who completed the original in 1610.
“All these titles are based on the historical themes Rubens worked from but I've put his iconic pieces mixed into one triptych based on one of his most famous works whilst adding my own perception of his work and putting a modern day twist on it," Richard says.
“The message behind my work is looking at the failure in systems throughout time and using such imagery as measuring sticks, going back as far as the crucifixion to modern-day war – all the same, really.”
Richard explains that the failure of systems worries him – the corruption and hypocrisy, be it in politics, the judiciary or economics – and his work reflects these concerns.
“The poor underdog suffers every time. The system has let him down just as it let Jesus down.”
Remarkable new work
It took the Newry artist almost 700 hours to complete Lust using graphic pencils on fine white art paper and, although he does rub out now and again, he has to be careful not to damage the surface. It’s a delicate, painstaking operation.
The work measures 5ft by 4ft and features 19 characters, and therein lies the fascination. There are references to Rubens and reflections of his work show in some of the faces as they gaze up at the Crucifixion.
Yet all life seems to be there and despite the tragedy of Jesus nailed to the Cross these people are engaged in self-satisfaction: two clowns, one with his bottle of Scotch and a cigarette, the other looking up at Jesus, his mouth open in horror and his hands clenched in prayer; a young boy showing his wings that have been clipped; the cloven-hoofed satyrs chasing women; and, above them all, the good thief Dysmas hanging on the cross.
But is all that it seems? Richard leaves it up to the viewer to interpret and that means taking time to examine every inch of this work – and it’s not hard because it is fascinating and disturbing – the devil’s in the detail.
The triptych sections are Compassion, the large centre panel showing the raising of the Cross, already completed, Lust, just finished and the third to be started this summer, all three ready to exhibit in their entirety by 2020.
There has been interest shown in his work from Argentina and France, with requests to complete a painted version. People from Germany and Italy have also been in touch and on top of all this Richard is thinking of dissecting the image and bringing individual characters to paper with an explanation of their background story.
Richard trained originally as a joiner, is now a life coach and an addiction counsellor after personal experience.
By nature a spiritual man
“I only believe in God’s love. Treat yourself and others with dignity and respect. It’s easy to love people who love you but there’s little reward in that; the challenge we all face is loving people who don't love you, that's where the growth is.”
Compassion and Lust are scheduled to go on exhibition in May this year at the Sean Hollywood Gallery in Newry and in Belfast after that (venue yet to be announced).
MESSAGE FROM OWEN
Anne,
'I find it embarrassing watching television with my young daughters when an ad comes up on television for women’s personal products. At teatime, for goodness sake, and this is not the time to advertise these things. I don’t want to see a woman riding off on her bicycle wearing tight shorts and wiggling her bottom.'
Owen
I appreciate what you mean, Owen, although probably you’d be even more uncomfortable if you’ve a young son at the table too. I read that discussing menstruation is apparently one of the most-complained about issues in commercials.
The companies selling sanitary products say they need to break down "the taboo and embarrassment surrounding periods. To remain silent will reinforce and perpetuate the unnecessary shame and stigma that some girls feel about their periods" (so says the Carefree company).
Another says there are 3.5 billion women on the planet and no two are the same shape and you can find a pad that fits from their range.
I reckon girls should not need to feel shame and stigma about their periods and surely that’s down to their mothers to explain at the appropriate age by talking naturally about this bodily function.
I know one mother who put it to her daughter that the womb is like a nursery which has to be cleaned and dusted every month in readiness for a baby when that day came. I know when my mother explained to me, I accepted the news but what a blow when it happened a second time – I thought it was a one-off event!
I guess, Owen, you could feign a coughing fit when the ad comes on or just acknowledge that you are embarrassing your daughters by reacting in this way.
