John Stuart Berger

The painting I chose was “An Edible Deity” I was inspired to use this painting because it accomplished two objectives: the first was a color issue the second was content.On the issue of color , I wanted to excecute a painting that appeared as if it was being veiwed through a colored lens. Everything in this painting is a modified monochromatic pallete of red and it makes the painting appear as though it is glowing and very vibrant.  On the issue of content, the subject matter in this painting is a paradox.  The snakes in this painting are worshiping (the mouse), which is the very thing they consume and destroy. This is something  that we as humans are faced with everyday when dealing with our envroment rescources etc.  I think it’s a good illustration of this without (hopefully) getting to preachy.  I enjoy using animals to demonstrate the human shortcomings in a manner simular Aesops fables or Orwells “Animal Farm”.  Using animals pictorially to illustrate the inherent flaws of humanity allows me to emphasize my point free from confrontation.