dIck mARTin Creative Artist
Abstract Painting
Philosophical Dogs
Click to enlarge
A Philosophical Dog Show
Although
small
(26
x
26
cm),
these
highly
textural
conceptual
paintings
have
quite
a
bite
and
are
based
on
the
philosophical
problem
of
knowledge:
i.e.
how
can
we
know
the
difference
between
appearance
and
reality
when
our
senses are often inaccurate?
How
do
you
really
know
you
are
standing/sitting
here
reading
this
and
are
not
a
brain
in
a
vat
connected
to
a
computer?
(Putnam)
How
do
you
know
an
evil
demon
is
not
tricking
you?
(Descartes)
How
do
you
know
you
are
not
just watching shadows in a cave? (Plato) Can you be absolutely sure you are not dreaming?
Each
painting
is
called
“Dog”
and
a
computer
chip
is
part
of
the
composition.
So,
where
is
the
dog?
Well,
inside
the
chip
of
course
and,
more
importantly,
inside
your
imagination!
But,
can
you
be
sure
you
are
not
in
the
chip
and
that
someone,
maybe
a
dog,
is
looking
at
you?
“Such
fun!”
On
the
back
of
each
painting
there
is
the
title
“Dog”
and
a
further random dog’s “character” word to describe the dog and tickle your imagination.
In
Plato's
Theory
of
Forms
,
objects
that
are
seen
are
not
real,
but
literally
mimic
the
real
“Forms”
in
the
mind.
Forms
are
the
most
pure
of
all
things.
For
Plato
there
is
a
form
for
every
object
or
quality
in
reality:
forms
of
dogs,
human beings, mountains, colours, courage, love and goodness, etc.
So,
think
of
a
dog
and
have
some
fun
splashing
about
with
a
canine
or
two
in
a
postmodern
world
of
dreams,
“malicious
demons,”
“brains
in
vats”
and
virtual
reality.
Beware,
some
of
these
dogs
come
in
packs.
A
philosophical
Crufts, woof, woof!
Dog (Anachronistic)
26 x 26cm
£85
Flippant
Dog (Bossy)
26 x 26cm
£85
Pavlovian
Dog (Bountiful)
26 x 26cm
£85
Gesticulating
Dog (Contemplative)
26 x 26cm
£85
Dog (Subjective)
26 x 26cm
£85
Dog (Dionysian)
26 x 26cm
£85
Elemental
Dog (Original)
26 x 26cm
£85
Quixotic
Philosophical
Dog (Seminal)
26 x 26cm
£85
Dog (Postmodern)
26 x 26cm
£85
Dog (Profound)
26 x 26cm
£85
Dog Pair (Inconsequential & Sceptical)
53 x 26cm
£160
Inspired & Gregarious
Supercillious & Languorous
Dog Pair (Bacchanalian & Risqué)
53 x 26cm
£160
Circus Dogs (Pack of 3)
80x 30cm
£240
Modern Dogs (Pack of 3)
80x 30cm
£240
Pedigree Dogs (Pack of 4)
53x 53cm
£320
Philosophical Dogs (Pack of 4)
53x 53cm
£320
Dog Pair (Lump Chewing 1 & 2)
62x 40cm
£320
This pair of paintings celebrates “Lump” - the
dog who ate a Picasso. Lump was a dachshund
who came to live with Picasso at Villa La
Californie in 1957. Picasso painted Lump many
times and he can be seen in some of Picasso’s
most famous paintings. One day Picasso showed
Lump a card sculpture of a rabbit and Lump
promptly ate it. Can you imagine Lump chewing
and the expression on Picasso’s face? I’m
interested in what comes into your mind as you
think of the scene that day in Villa La Californie.
dIck mARTin Creative Artist
Viewed
from side
On wall
PHILOSOPHICAL DOGS SOLD