mouldscapes, in more detail

nine mouldscapes; these are mixed media on wood panel, 15cm x 15cm x 4cm...here are three of the panels, photographed at a jaunty angle...mouldscape I (side-ish view)mouldscape II (side-ish view)mouldscape III (side-ish view)and all nine mouldscape panels, full on...mouldscape Imouldscape IImouldscape IIImouldscape IVmouldscape Vmouldscape VImouldscape VIImouldscape VIIImouldscape IXthese small paintings on panel are currently on view in the artworks exhibition at blackthorpe barn,  open daily. 10am – 5pm, 11 September to 3 October 2010…why only nine? well, i only managed to complete nine in time for the exhibition - i have plans to do at least twenty five... which would give me more opportunity to develop patinas, textures, surfaces, etc - i also like very much working on this smaller scale - they become extra tactile objects - the gaze extends to the touch...is it real mould? no! i would never entertain any kind of mould in the house - it can be deadly - no, these are  just creatively adapted from nature...why mould, exactly? am just endlessly fascinated by things that are simultaneously beautiful, a little bit ugly in the wrong context (or eyes) and equally a little bit in awe of, not quite knowing if it is good or bad, a sign of life or death...  it's quite existential stuff, really...perhaps they also act as visual antidotes to all things sterile and clinical in our western culture - and the persistent culture of fear that the media (especially the daily mail) continually perpetuates - and the environmental pollution and health issues that evolve as a result of seeking to eradicate all signs of a natural, biological world... have i said this before? nature is quite cruel really, we must respect its ecology...