The Legs of One and Two of Another

This work was inspired by my lucky discovery of the decorative vintage oak panels in an old fashioned neighbourhood hardware store during their closing sale. The closing of another independent business reminded me again of our own transience and the loss of what we don't always recognise in time to be valuable. The painted images are animal legs painted decoratively in a style reminiscent of antique Japanese signage. The idea of dismembered bodies is at once abhorrent to us and quite ordinary. Presented in this way as precious elements, the beautiful animal parts become visible again, and recall the vital elegance of the living animal. The panels themselves are quite old and very beautifully carved and polished. From notes I found on the backs of some it is possible they were imported from Japan.