"The Cartesian Centaur, " Contemporary, Narrative, Figurative, with Animal Art

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About the Item

"The Cartesian Centaur," (2018) Watercolour on paper 22 x 30 x 1 inches "When I was a kid I liked to watch Stampede Wrestling and once in a while André the Giant would show up and throw around a few 220lbs opponents who were less than half his size. Later in life I read some works by Samuel Beckett the Irish/French playwright. I then found out that Samuel Beckett and a high school aged André the Giant were neighbours in a small village outside of Paris and were apparently friends. They would share cigarettes and talk sporting news. To me this was such a beautiful case of high brow/low brow and sparked this painting. Beckett was fond of symbols in his plays. Willow trees have been used as symbols of death in Irish Culture, and though the species is not clearly identified, the tree in Beckett’s Waiting for Godot seems to symbolize death, and his description in the play implies a pollard willow––the type of tree in my painting. Storks, also seen in my picture and conversely to willows, often symbolize life and rebirth. The titular, never-seen character, Godot, was by some accounts based on a French cyclist, a “domestique” who never won tour stages but was always there to help his teammates to victory. His fans would always be “waiting for Godot” to finish the race. Beckett was an accomplished athlete in cricket, rugby, swimming and cycling and referred to the bicycle as The Cartesian Centaur because it was the most efficient hybrid of man and machine. I love this reference to the Greek mythological character and that is where I got the title to this painting." Taking inspiration from a wide variety of sources, Paul is an avid bird watcher, musician and traveller with a special interest in Africa. His interests in zoology, geography, history, literature and exploration have led him on many journeys, including canoe expeditions of the canals of northern Europe and walking safaris through the East African savannahs. Paul has shown his work in Montreal, Toronto, Seattle, Vancouver, and Portland, Oregon. His work belongs to private collections around the world. He studied visual art and animation at Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design. Born and raised in the western provinces of BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan, Paul moved east to Montreal for 10 years to work for the National Film Board of Canada where he directed short, hand drawn, animated films. His longing for the Pacific Rim brought him back west to East Vancouver where he now lives and works.

Creator:
Paul Morstad
Creation Year:
2018
Dimensions:
Height: 22 in (55.88 cm)Width: 30 in (76.2 cm)Depth: 1 in (2.54 cm)
Medium:
Watercolor,Archival Paper
Movement & Style:
Contemporary
Period:
2010-
Condition:
Gallery Location:
Vancouver, CA
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU125816286332