Allegorical animal abuse or the fine art of a poetical, choreographed reality dance show? The subjects chosen by artists to express literal and abstract ideas or the complete lack thereof, are seemingly endless. Yet the frequency and agelessness of the subject and spectacle of the bull fight has been a favorite of modern artists. Although appearing somewhat cruel by today’s standards, the bullfight, the bullfighter and the charging bull remain the subjects chosen by artists to convey more than just the spectacle butchering of a young bull.
Here, I have chosen the bullfight to depict the dance as it relates to senseless raw power and fury of the mindless, charging to destroy what it does not understand. The beast of power sees only the target and is incapable of understanding what it seeks to destroy, only that it must do so. In that effort to destroy its perceived target, the bull destroys itself, again and again. The bullfighter, calculating his motions with that of the powerful animal, expresses the effort to avoid being destroyed while fearlessly remaining in the ring and ultimately, ritualistically preparing for the feasting upon the carcass of his attacker. And as we know, the bullfighter in his struggle to survive the attacks of the bull is occasionally gored or killed during this fight.
The bullfighter and bull, locked in ritual, appear in a defined space, weighted forms, with active and descriptive color. Linear, narrative, sculpted color values and tone create a compelling piece, providing of course, the viewer is not offended by allegorical animal combat.
My apologies to anyone offended to this allegory, perhaps a more acceptable narrative next time.
