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| Oil on canvas 36cm x 36cm |
This study of a cut up melon on a white cotton sheet is as much a portrait of the sheet, with all it's creases, folds and subtle coloration, as a depiction of melon with it's contrasting strong chroma. If any additional layer of meaning arises while arranging a still life, a process that usually takes hours, then those elements tend to stay and become a focal idea which informs how the painting is painted.
The red melon flesh lying on a crumpled sheet stained with melon juice reminded me of the idea of the body of Christ lying on a shroud, and the old master paintings depicting this and also the still life paintings of the C17th monk, Juan Cotan. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_S%C3%A1nchez_Cot%C3%A1n
There is also a trinity aspect; one melon cut into three pieces. Unequal in size, there is a large piece
on a raised level, a medium sized piece and the smallest teeters on an edge. It is three aspects of the
same thing from a spherical whole.
My studio is located inside a Baptist church. Before Easter
I was chatting with the minister, James, about his preparations and mentioned
this painting. I discovered that the apostle Paul describes Christ’s
resurrection, as ‘first fruits’ (1 Corinthians 15:23). First Fruits is a
harvest term, it’s an offering, an opportunity to give the first fruits back to
God as a show of faith. There are also other references to fruit concerning
Jesus and his teachings in the Bible. I was not aware of this when I started
the painting, but did feel that somehow fruit was a good metaphor for Christ, crucifixion
and resurrection as it conferred ideas of ripeness, seeds and growth,
regeneration and rebirth.
He then invited me to talk about this painting during the Easter service. This was a great pleasure and an honour as it was also the churches 75th anniversary service.
He then invited me to talk about this painting during the Easter service. This was a great pleasure and an honour as it was also the churches 75th anniversary service.
