Title: Give Peace a Chance
Size: 170 x 78 cm
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Description: Art that changes the World!
13 Comments
Comments closed
a multi-disciplinary dialog
Posted by Angela Ferreira on May 20th, 2007
Title: Give Peace a Chance
Size: 170 x 78 cm
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Description: Art that changes the World!
13 Comments Comments closed
Enchanting. I will be looking at it all day.
Angela,
One of the first things that struck me about this painting is the strength of all the lovely curving lines at high-contrast boundaries, from the woman’s face and limbs to the cat’s tail to the leaves of the flower. This seems very appropriate to you and your theme, as indicated by the title.
Without that title, I would read this painting as having to do with powerful thoughts or ideas that the woman, looking at us from a meditating position, would like to communicate. She has, as often in your work, support and connection from a female ancestor (mother?) in the clouds, and the group (children?) dancing in a ring. The cat has a questioning look, but knows something is up. However, I don’t have any sense of a conflict elsewhere in the world that would be the motivation for trying to promote peace. If there’s war in this world, it must be far away. If you want this message to be more clear and specific, I do think it would fit your symbolical-allegorical style to have some sign of conflict, if nothing more than a black cloud somewhere on the horizon.
Please,
No black cloud in this painting. Let there be solely harmony.
If there needs to be a reminder of conflict, add another painting as a diptych
Blessings Birgit, it is already working for you…
Birgit,
Your remark bears on the old question of how specific a message one can or should try to convey. Not that there’s a single answer. I was trying to think of ways Angela could (possibly) get more across if she wanted to. But of course, if the title is given, then the context is clear enough without other evidence in the painting. The painting could be simply a vision of what could result from giving peace a chance. I find nothing wrong with that approach.
hi,Angela,
wonderfull painting I find you a courageous painter .You stay with pure emotions
Steve,
..what could result from giving peace a chance is that the trees leaf out again.
Angela,
I tried to erase the title from my mind and just look at the painting (wonderful, by the way). What held me were the eyes, always the eyes — the eyes of the woman, of course, but the eyes of the cat, and the eyes of the Buddha.
The woman looks directly at us, but the cat is glancing off at something off-stage. The Buddha seems to have closed eyes. No one is looking at the dancing circle, which seems to exist in its own world, a space conjured just for it. And the moon is a great blank eye.
The painting, then, has its most direct connection to the external world (or worlds), and more particularly to the viewer. I sense a challenge, more than serenity. The tilt of the woman’s chin and the way she is looking at us feels severe to me. She herself is beautiful and active in her engagement with the world of peace, but I keep thinking I’m not doing enough.
June,
..active..not doing enough..
‘Miocene’ and ‘Mother’ illustrate heavenly strength.
I see the woman, her chin raised against the repose of her body, and the rest of the painting melts away.
I’m moved with the emotion and the challenge ……….and in love with the painting.
Angela,
Very nice, the group/cult singing hosannas to a white moon in a dark blue sky with the concerned yogi in the clouds, the trees without leaves with shades of a fading dawn in the distance, the consternation on the face of the cat and the wistfulness of the lady all promote strong hinges of a story well told.
Question:
Did you have any Indian (as in Asian Indian and not American Indian) influences when you created this painting?
Sunil, I will take an excert of my byography that will explain your question: ”
Angela Ferreira is Cardiff based artist living in Wales who since young age has traveled extensively witch has strong urging influences in her works. Angela’s goal is to bring cultures together, transmit good inner feelings, positive energy and take your eyes on a journey to a different imaginative world.”