Artwork description:

This is an original large-scale, hand-carved and hand-burnished linocut. It features the video game character 'Cool Spot' from the early 90s, who was also the 7-up drinks mascot. I have added tribal markings to the character, typical of the Ndebele tribe in Africa. In the top right of the work there are a cluster of circles with a line spiralling through. This is a meditation or 'transformative shifting' tool, which according to the supposed 3-dimensional being called 'Bashar', apparently channeled by the American Darryl Anka, is designed to help us explore more and become of who we really are. The circles are intended to be viewed as a 3-D cube and you slowly follow the lines around into the centre over and over. By using a character like 'Cool Spot' created from imagination and including tribal references, I am emphasising that the rich culture and art created by humans are what can have true value in a society and these things can hold the key to who or what we really are as people.

Aside from the deep stuff the artwork has a fun and playful appearance! We see 'Cool Spot' striding along, donning his trademark sunglasses, with his surfboard by his side.

The work is printed using a hand-burnishing method in which the paper is placed over the linocut and then the back of the paper is rubbed intensely with a burnishing tool to transfer the image. For this reason the registration marks used during printing are faintly embossed around each corner on the outer edge of the print. This only adds to and emphasises the handmade nature of the piece.

The work is printed on 315gsm Heritage Bookwhite printmaking paper.

If you have any questions relating to the work before purchase please don't hesitate to ask me.

Materials used:

linoleum, printmaking ink, carving tools

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