John Lawson’s recent series of mixed media works are contemporary meditations on the primeval and the perennial, as seen through the lens of the famous Lascaux Cave paintings.
He's an artist whose mixed media works offer a modern reflection on ancient cave paintings, blending historical imagery with contemporary themes.
Each piece is a blend of abstraction and figuration, inviting the viewer to consider the enduring power of imagery and its evolution from ancient to modern narratives.
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Cave Painting Selfies
In "Cave Painting Selfies," Lawson embarks on a whimsical yet profound dialogue with history, connecting the ancient tradition of self-representation with today's selfie culture. The 14 x 17-inch mixed media piece is a riot of color and form, with layered textures that suggest both the erosion of time and the immediacy of the present moment. The work juxtaposes the prehistoric with the contemporary, urging a reflection on the changing nature of self-expression.
Cave Painting Icarus with a Red Bull
Lawson's "Cave Painting Icarus with a Red Bull" is a 17 x 14-inch mixed media exploration of myth and modernity. The Icarus figure is reimagined, soaring not on waxen wings but perhaps with the aid of modern ‘wings’. This piece is a clever juxtaposition that plays on themes of hubris and aspiration, offering a commentary on today’s ambition-fueled society as reflected in ancient cautionary tales.
Cave Painting
In "Cave Painting," Lawson delves deeper into the dialogue between past and present. This 14 x 17-inch work balances abstract elements with hints of figuration, echoing the way ancient images might appear to a contemporary viewer. The subtlety of line and form is reminiscent of the Lascaux Cave’s mysterious artistry, with a modern twist that speaks to the timeless nature of human creativity.
John Lawson’s artistic practice is a seamless fusion of temporal distances, bringing together the distant echoes of the past with the vibrant pulse of the present. His work stands as a testament to the idea that art is a continuum, ever-changing yet always rooted in the elemental desires to communicate, to represent, and to understand our place in the world.
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