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James Christensen - The Listener
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"There are two types of people - those who wait to talk and those who listen." - Anonymous
In the Dolby surround sound of our daily lives, we all have to find our own mute button. "Since a painting has no soundtrack, the title character at the center of The Listener has found the best way to shut off all the noise in the visual cacophony around him is by closing his eyes," Christensen says. "Listening to his still, small, inner-voice, he remains centered without being overcome. We can all find peace in this busy world, but sometimes need to be reminded that we are in charge of our destiny and each of us has the ability to focus without being pushed and pulled as victims." The characters found in the colorful "noise" around the listener in this painting take many forms including politicians, mothers-in-law, musicians, and famous artists... can you find Picasso. Through it all, our listener ignores the noise in favor of his own personal tranquility.
For The Listener, artist James Christensen found inspiration in the art of 15th century Flemish painter, Hieronymus Bosch. In his time, Bosch’s vivid symbolism and striking free style was simultaneously marvelous and at times terrifying. In the course of creating this painting, Christensen expanded his references to include a wider range of art and artists. Can you find…
A Bosch-inspired noisy demon with wings blowing a horn.
A Bosch figure talking to a grieving woman in red sleeves (Mary Magdalene as portrayed in Deposition, a painting by another Flemish artist Roger van der Weyden).
A cameo of artist Pablo Picasso (Hint – The cherries on his head are a reference to Bosch’s The Garden of Earthly Delights and a symbol of lustiness).
A Bottecelli woman contemplating the advanced of a wealthy older man from Venice.
Two cherubs or "putti".
Three critics judging a woman and her child.
A fancy admiral.
A lawyer holding a legal brief.
A woman experiencing sadness and grief.
A hunchback yelling in a school of fish.
Monkey business.
The mother-in-law.
Seven birds and bird-brained characters.
A Spanish king borrowed from Goya.
Medieval rock Musicians.
The publisher.
And, of cource, three scary clowns.
While the croud may be maddening, Christensen seeks to remind us of one's ability to find serenity and inner peace amid the uproar of life.
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