“Something spontaneous” (Post 98)

Six years ago, I ventured into a location with my camera and I asked almost everyone I could find if I could please borrow their countenances; I wanted to create a few portraits. One happy gentleman pretended to be a major in the army and he gave me a spontaneous salute. I decided to create a spontaneous portrait of his humorous pose.

I called this collage “Spontaneous” and I used a variety of materials here. I created a glue outline and then I rolled a print of his face with water-based ink, which I coloured with aquarelle pencils. The red halo around his face was created by the (recycled) paper cups I found in the streets which I cut open and stuck with spray adhesive. I used a photocopy for his chest where the blacker part is and then I created a “festival” by sticking the wonderful stickers children play with randomly all over where I felt it was needed.

I understand that art gallery goers do not know where to place such a work in their mental categories, but I have sympathy, because I do not know where to place it myself. However, I can assure you, it was a bucket full of fun to create this work. I wanted to pay homage to his kind and joyful gentleman who played along during my photographic excursion. I am thinking of a verse today. In Proverbs 15:15 we read, “For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.” (New Living Translation.) May many more happy moments find us and may we find free and “impulsive” colourful resources with which to express what we have experienced.