St Narcissus
We live in a very class conscious society, especially here in the UK. Among those fellow human beings who feel that life is just a battle in which there are winners and losers, existence can become reduced to a self- seeking game which requires the continuous demotion of others. It is an exercise in which the fragile self-esteem must be raised to a level that ensures his or her rank is re- confirmed above the ‘’lesser’ beings.This is evident in the many people who like to posture and puff their chests to establish their self-proclaimed superiority. It is a true blessing that not everyone shares this ruthless outlook and we have gentler souls to offset the ego driven hard heads that like to win at all costs. Did someone say Trump? ‘St Narcissus’ looks at those characters who live their lives lording it over others.We have all met them.They like to dominate, control and all share a secret fear of being inadequate. They have a lot to prove.Winning people
over is everything to them. Amusingly, they also usually make sore losers, sulking even if they lose a game of scrabble. My painting celebrates the incomparable silliness that makes people behave like this. You will note the little Banksy clown firing his pistols. He personifies people I have met, comical in their egomania. I have taken the well-known, high renaissance image of St Michael defeating Satan and switched roles. St Narcissus, in his designer label, muscle hugging top is bullying the laid out, Primark wearing underdog. He is so indulgent in his need for superiority that he is taking selfies as he stamps on the chest of his modestly dressed opponent.The stick obviously replaces St Michael’s sword. He is the perfect narcissist; grandiose and superficial, his survival depends on seeing others as less - less successful, less powerful, less popular because he is better, more, superior, etc. In
fact, the relationship of both their hands reaching out suggests that they could be touching one another, but keep missing. This suggests the sometimes wafer thin line between having integrity and getting it wrong. It also implies that they could be alter egos, the same person, one with the ego in overdrive, the other surrendering the tyranny of his ego so that a better life can follow. Defeat and victory depend on what is being won. If one’s victories come at the expense of others, they can only be regarded as failures. Why didn’t Yoda say this to Darth Vader? Ultimately this is a painting about the futility of wanting power over others and the trappings of so called success. It is an ongoing condition with people and a subject that was a joy to paint! On a technical point, it is wonderful trying to capture the quality of these classic, biblical paintings while adding a contemporary flavour.
Oil on Canvas | 87cm x 113cm
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