Artist     Richard Anderton
Title      Paris Beast III
Date      2000's
object    Print
Media    ink jet
Size       101.5 x 107cm
Ref          977

Diploma work kindly donated in 2003

Other websites featuring this artist's work
www.cfpr.uwe.ac.uk
www.rwa.org.uk/memfrm.htm

Paris Beast III
My interest in this subject started with iconoclastic images of real animals, isolating them from their actual environment and placing them in a new environment, thereby taking the animal out of its context. This new environment in which they literally sit, is based upon my conception of their history and my memories of travel. This for me, developed a fascination with man's interpretation of the animal. The classic example being Durer's "Rhinoceros" which he drew from a verbal description.

In turn this led to my interest in the mythological and supernatural animal and man's interpretation of it, such as the gargoyles on Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris'. Not only did they have a practical purpose but they had mythological connotations as well. The unknown artisan/craftsman was given the freedom to imagine and create such creatures. My present work combines the elements of my memories of travel and the glorification of these unknown artisans. I have catalogued and captured these artisans' interpretations through photography rather than drawing so that I do not detract from the essence and quality of their work. Their environment is determined by their actual geographical situation; therefore, it is logical that the use of maps is a convenient method for placing them.

The ability to manipulate the design on the computer is part of a mystical method for setting free these creatures from their original environment. The scale of my work is important. To magnify these often overlooked creatures is an important part of the work, therefore the wide format printing system becomes an ideal method for executing my ideas.

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