Description
‘That’s not a son of man’ is pixel painted GIF appropriated from ‘The Son of Man’ (1964) a painting by Magritte. The original painting consists of a man in an overcoat and a bowler hat standing in front of a shortened wall, beyond which is the sea and a cloudy sky. The man's face is largely obscured by a floating green apple. It explores a sort of conflict, one might say, between the visible that is hidden and the visible that is present. It explores a certain obscurity of perception through themes of absurdity, identity and self reflection. ‘That’s no son of man’ explores the same themes but today in the digital era. The green apple is replaced by a pixelated apple logo of the commercial company. The green changing to white, and back and forth in continuing cycle. What do we see today in a world bombarded with consumerism and mass media images? The pixelation of the work pays homage to the digital era whilst also a play on pixelation as a use of censorship, a blurring of the lines and boundaries of fine art and image quality.
'That's not a Son of Man' is a digitally rendered GIF inspired by Magritte's 'The Son of Man' (1964), wherein a man dons an overcoat and a bowler hat, standing before a shortened wall overlooking the sea and a cloudy sky. His face is concealed by a floating green apple, prompting contemplation on the interplay between the seen and unseen. This artwork delves into themes of absurdity, identity, and introspection amidst obscured perception.
In 'That's not a Son of Man,' these themes are revisited through a contemporary lens, reflecting the digital age. Here, the iconic green apple is replaced by a pixelated version of a commercial company's logo, fluctuating between green and white in a perpetual cycle. This adaptation prompts reflection on the inundation of consumerism and mass media imagery in today's society.
The pixelation of the artwork serves as both an homage to the digital era and a commentary on censorship, blurring the boundaries between fine art and image quality. It invites viewers to ponder the implications of technology on perception and the evolving nature of artistic expression.
