The Art of
Chris Chibnall
This work
was based, like so many here, on an automatic drawing. The 'eye' theme is very
common in my work for some reason. The creature featured here has both animal
and vegetable characteristics, and appears to be under water. The title is from
a light-hearted piece of music by Sir Arthur Sullivan, and is applied here
because the 'entity' bears more than a passing resemblance to a pineapple. As with
most of my paintings, the title comes after the piece is painted, should be
regarded as fairly arbitrary, and as principally for identification.
(GBP 250)
Here we
see an imposing matrix supporting a number of small scenes and perspectives.
Regal-looking figures and what appears to be a ceremony around a dolmen suggest
the painting's title. Elsewhere, an eye takes the place of
the setting sun, and thin clouds pass across another sunset- a time of
'in-betweenness'. Towards the top right is an owl, and all over the
picture are receding crystalline perspectives.
(GBP 150)
Wizard's Reverie: 29.5 x
23.5"
The
legendary Yellow Emperor of the Daoists? Or Merlin in Ecstasy? Either way, his
eyes are closed, and the Astral Light swirls and eddies in response to his
gracefully gesturing hands.
(GBP 250)
Written In Stone: 23.5
x 16.5"
In the
foreground, a massive, blockish head with one eye closed- perhaps it represents
the limits of temporal power or intellect? Behind the head is a stone
monument in the shape of an open book- perhaps representing a rigid
adherence to written revelation? And growing up behind them, a fluid,
vibrant tree- perhaps the Tree of Life?
(GBP 100)
Keeper of The Flame:
29.5 x 23.5"
A one-eyed
being (is it alive or in stone?) stands on a plinth surrounded by walls of
crystal- or is it ice? Behind him flickers a veritable inferno of orange flame.
(GBP 250)
One of my
most 'Art-Deco' paintings, with hints of De Chirico. A rather Cubist, Easter-
Island -Statue-like man seems to turn his back on a priestlike figure with a
blank face, holding a book. Next to him is a Napoleon-like figure with a winged
helmet. Then comes a mummy with a skeletal face, and finally, our hero gazes
with hope at a brighter image- apparently of a comet. A great
conversation-piece for someone!
(GBP 150)
When these
two entities appeared in an automatic drawing, I even astonished myself!
I saw a perfect dog-or seal-like face, and elsewhere a kind of
sea-anemone. My own feeling is that both the creatures depicted here in
watery, sensuous embrace are female, making this painting somewhat Lesbian in
character. You may be interested to know that I added the finishing
touches to the final painting at 11.00 p.m. on 31st. December 1999, just before
making my way to the millennial festivities. Perhaps it is to do with the
passing from the Age of Pisces to the Age of Aquarius?
(GBP 250)
This image
started as a doodle on my blotter at work. Again,
lots of eyes-someone once saw this picture and asked if I was a
beaurocrat! I am very pleased with the Art-Deco clouds and sunrays: note
that the panels on the mountain itself bear detailed marbling that
is probably only visible on the original. The picture is in a leaded
glass frame that I designed and made myself.
(GBP 200)
This lady
is certainly a dark aspect of the Goddess. She could be the Medusa, whose
gaze turned men to stone- or could even be Lilith: both have an association
with snakes.
(GBP 250)
Another
drawing that came originally from an automatic drawing. The 'King' made
his presence known: I just had to give him some definite features and resolve
the object he is holding in his hand: a flower that originated as a doodle on
my blotter at work.
(GBP 150)
A very
obvious eye, looking down on a cascading river that runs through parkland, with a stone monument to upper left. The monument is
somewhat urn-like, and incorporates a face in profile.
[ Ben
Fernee adds:- This painting has a stained glass frame made by the artist.]
(GBP
200)
Societe de Sol et Lune: 33.5 x
26"
One of my
own favourites: a painting in my 'Art-Nouveau' style, with intricate, swirling
vegetation. The couple in the middle appear to be the 'royal couple' of
alchemy, who are joined together in the Great Work, or creation of the
Androgyne. They are presided over by a priestlike figure with a bulbous head,
and over the whole scene gazes a strange idol carved into a mountaintop. A
crescent moon hangs in the sky. The title was suggested to me in a dream
I had when the picture was partly completed.
(GBP 300)
A
mysterious one this- suggested by a doodle on my blotter whilst I was on the
telephone to someone. There are a number of chestnut- like seeds in sockets
(ever-so-slightly suggestive of eyes!) There is also a cloaked, hooded figure
and an arum lily.
(GBP 150)
In a
craggy desert stands a monument- to whom, I do not know. There is
some ambiguity as to whether the backdrop is the sky or a great lake. On
one side of the monument appears the skull of a bird- it appeared by itself,
and I just embellished it a bit.
(GBP 100)
Now there
really is a story behind this one! I began by taking a magazine photograph as a
point of departure. The original photograph illustrated a television series set
in Soho, London. It depicted an actor slouching towards the camera, with a
narrow Soho street hung with neon signs in the background. I have stylized the
actor's face out of all recognition, and substituted my own doodles for the
neon signs, though staying close to the original colours. One such sign in the
background suggested glowing red embers, and I decided to develop it - a
fissure in the scene leading to some inferno, perhaps? Anyway, this fiery patch
grew bigger and bigger, and I added some smoke. Standing back and looking at
the picture, it appeared to depict an explosion in a Soho street, with a man
running away in the foreground. I completed this painting a few weeks before
the infamous bomb attack on the Admiral Duncan pub. in Soho. I leave it to the
viewer to decide how much my figure resembles the culprit. Ben Fernee adds:-
Soho is an area of London. In April 1999 a lone rightwing terrorist planted a
bomb in this pub because gay people went there. Two people were killed and 80
wounded. The image from a video below shows the culprit in Brixton, another
area of London. He planted a bomb there because coloured people lived there.
(GBP 200)