By Duncan Regehr
Human beings are explorers. Always questing and questioning. We thrive on investigating Mystery; we take on extraordinary challenges in the pursuit of knowledge and truth.
Prometheus, of Greek mythology, whose name means ‘forethought’ molded the first human from clay and was the inventor of the arts. He heroically embraced the unknown when he sought fire, stealing it from the mysterious realm of the gods, gifting it to humankind.
‘Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go’ – T. S. Eliot
I’ve always been interested in what I don’t know, which is just about everything. For me, painting (making art) is expressive exploration. Brushes, pencils, like dowsing wands or lightning rods, divine the unknown. The mystery behind the reality we think we know is fascinating. Reaching beyond the commonplace, beyond the reality that sits in front of us, often leads to something greater.
There is always some level of visualization, even if it is just an inkling or notion; the gift of Prometheus – a tiny spark, beckoning from the dark, which ignites the soul.
The harmonious forging of idea and emotion is a matter of instinctive balance – stoking coals of inspiration, tempering wild fires of imagination.
I call it the Prometheus Rhythm.
Flash of idea
Flame of emotion
Fire the crucible.
Being absolutely present allows innate focus to prevail. The physical activity of painting draws forth the unknown to become known: The Prometheus Rhythm.
The moment I enjoy the most, occurs just before actualization, when existence and non-existence coalesce. Potential transforms and becomes physical reality – Art.
Color is derived by way of emotion and intuition. As work develops, specific or distinct choices can be made, but I like to trust innate sense to help formulate pigments which resonate with all the other ongoing developments. Together, these contribute to a cohesive theme. Once that is apparent, a series of related works can be nurtured.
Contrasting color schemes in “The Lost Man” paintings evolved as integral to the theme of the series.
The Lost Man has not lost himself;
rather it is society that has lost the man.
In each piece I wanted the solitary figure to appear as though he is present within his environment (in that he occupies space) and yet exists separate from its reality.
All the colors and abstractions of his essence prevail, not lost or faded but vibrantly contained within his being. Color-wise, the figures are the polar opposite of their surroundings. Background environments, rendered in duller greyish tones, appear remote, shrouded and out of focus.
I began work on the series in the spring of 2019. Initially, the paintings, which contain their own singular themes, arose from the observation that men have been experiencing alienation, a rejection of male values and a gradual erosion of essential masculinity for some time.
In a general way, the series supports recognition that people everywhere have been experiencing severance from reality. The more we engage artificial intelligence, automation and “virtual” reality, the more we grow increasingly out of touch with each other, and our selves. We embrace the superficial, isolate through texting, social media, and disconnect through fake news and “reality” TV.
With the emergence of Covid-19, “The Lost Man” series seems a timely creation; perhaps a harbinger of what was to come. Now, more than ever, people are experiencing social distancing, isolation, separation from society and from everything that we once knew as “normal”.
When Prometheus stole fire and gave it to humankind, he was condemned by Zeus to solitary existence, chained to a rock for his crimes and subjected to daily torture for eternity. It was the divine hero, Heracles, that paragon of masculinity and hope, who released him from the torments of exile. Prometheus was free, once again, to ignite the human spirit with the illumination of the arts.
As a new world order swiftly approaches, courage, compassion, perseverance and hope have the potential to help ease us away from our confinements and addictions; and to re-engage our human calling as explorers – to look beyond the commonplace, seek truth in the unknown, and through our arts, delve the mystery behind the reality we think we know.
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