This painting is a 120 cm long surreal work about the opposing sides of village life, taking inspiration from the conservative way of thinking that can often be found within such communities. Joël uses circular and natural thinking to criticize the immutable attitudes towards different cultures and subgroups. The painting guides the viewer on a journey from left to right, moving from better to worse, following the weather cycle. Along the way, the viewer will encounter surreal imagery such as mills resembling businessmen, rain in the shape of clocks, a TV prison, and houses with eyes. A poem written by Joël himself accompanies this painting, emphasizing the sense of entrapment and surveillance in these communities.
- Village Life Series
- 120x30x1,5 cm
- Acrylic and oil paint
- January 2023
The circle of life
Is a closed ring
The ring is ticking
Like an index finger
The finger of the neighbour
Points at the concrete wall
The walls have ears
And the houses have eyes
The working-class hero
The passing of the year
The couch in front of the TV
Are you really here?