A Simple Man

By

Carlos Martyn Burgos

My piece, with adjoining sketches, comes from my interest in the ‘human imprint’ aspects of our development during childhood and that of a possible future.

The main piece shows a child’s hands lovingly held by its mother. The mother’s hands are warm, caring, comforting and safe. The person she is and the values and wisdom she carries are now handed down to her child. Her hands are made up of these loving words of hers, knowing that there will be a time when we all grow up and these memories and wisdom will be of use. The composition is key as these words surround the child’s hands. They will always be with him. They cradle the child figuratively and realistically. The entire composition also vaguely forms a heart shape.

The words used are from a song called ‘Simple Man’ by the band Lynrd Skynrd- a song which for me conveys these moments and experiences. How a child ideally learns and depends on the knowledge or advice that they pick up or are handed down by their parents. This piece became very personal to me after the death of my grandfather earlier this year. A lot of thinking and appreciation for my own family and the wisdom and traits passed on down was brought up for me, as well as my own experiences growing up with my mother fighting cancer.

The small sketches I produced leading up to this became quite complex and explored the imprint on minds and emotions, from an early age. The young mind is receptive and thirsty for input, it is always switched on and absorbing everything around it. Technology has changed the way information is handled and how education is imparted. I thought about how our modern world affects this and would continue to. Is this generation Y- a society that is typically regarded as being increasingly familiar with digital and electronic technology? Or could it even be generation Z the ‘net generation’? Both are but a vision of an alternative future.

They were all created using pencil, Biro (ballpoint pen) and tea on paper. The natural staining properties of the tea reacted with the ink lending the unpredictability of its tones and direction to the results. The tea was applied and splashed liberally. Heat was then applied to the tea and ink producing further uncontrolled reactions, sealing in the pigments and creating more levels of tone and effect. As in the ‘human imprint’ I still tried to guide my materials, not always knowing for sure the certainty of the end result.