Symbols Of Life, Walter Batiss Flashcards
Subject matter
Symbolic story of the river and varied life that sustains it. Could also be seen as a cross section of an anti Hill of scales of reptiles as the work is depicted in pictographs and abstract shapes
Style
Stylized
Abstract
What linear work of figures could represent
Animals
People
Reptiles
Stylised into original and simplified shapes
Middle Eastern calligraphy influence
Shapes in painting became free interpretation
Composition
Flat, decorative
Shapes & colour
Red brown on cream background while river is in ochre & brown
African/San influence
Silhouetted symbolic motifs spread over white plane
Use of earthly colours reinforces connectiom to rock art
Arrangement of shapes
Controlled leaving distance between each of them
Quarter from bottom canvas has bold organic shapes diving the evenly arranged symbols in two opposing poles
What motifs represent
Organic version of some living being :
Recognizable insects jackals, people etc.
Organic feeling
Not geometrically placed
Message in title
Title tells story behind work and celebrates life and pays homage to heritage of our first artists
Message in conceptual interpretations of what he learned from rock art
Created personalized symbolic system that tells about Batiss ideas on life and spirituality.
