Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 19

"Yo, Ho, Ho" Great Britain's Colonial History- Mixed Media by Gregory

About the Item

If we cannot say much about the painter, we can say many things about this piece of Great Britain's colonial history! Gregory's enigmatic mixed media artwork, "Yo, Ho, Ho," emerges as a layered tapestry of symbolism, merging past and present. Crafted through watercolor and collages, the artwork weaves disparate elements into a provocative tableau that challenges viewers to consider the deeper implications of empire, unity, and the seductive allure of influence. At the center of the composition, an imposing figure with a devilish grin and four arms holds court. This dark, enigmatic character, endowed with an unsettling sense of authority, clutches a bottle labeled "Bottled in Scotland." Flanked on either side by a whimsical aristocrat and a tipsy sailor, they form an unlikely trio bound by the shared joy of inebriation. In their hands, these figures hold potent symbols of intoxication - blended scotch, a pint adorned with the United Kingdom blazon, and a bottle of Canadian mist. Each bottle encapsulates its own narrative, offering a prism to scrutinize the intricate web of historical and cultural threads. The mise-en-scène is set against the backdrop of a port's nocturnal shoreline. A lighthouse's beam pierces the darkness, casting its guiding light across the scene, while a quaint liquor shop, labeled "Vins et Liqueurs," bathes in a warm glow that contrasts the pale moonlight. The horizon, tinged with a distant pink hue, evokes both the promise and uncertainty of the future. Dominating the frame are two elephants, each bearing the burden of their symbolic weight. On the left, an elephant adorned with King George V's label stands resolute, while on the right, another elephant dons King George VI's emblem. Below the latter, a sailboat navigates turbulent seas, christened with the name "Queen Victoria." These historical markers anchor the narrative, representing the grandeur, transformation, and challenges that shaped the British Empire's trajectory. At the bottom of the composition, a collage element quotes a 1970 Seagram's 100 Pipers Scotch ad. The subversive text, "Two things tell you much about a man... One is his scotch," lends an extra depth to the artwork, casting a discerning light on the characters' drink choices and, metaphorically, their true essence. Gregory's masterstroke lies in his subversive critique of the British Empire's legacy. The allegorical juxtaposition of monarchs who presided over its expansion, zenith, and eventual dissolution speaks volumes about the artist's intent. By exploiting the scotch metaphor - a blend of cultures, histories, and identities - the artist delves into the superficial unity that masked underlying divisions. The Canadian mist, the cheap scotch, is a testament to unity's fragility. Further adding to the complexity is the presence of the French liquor shop, an eloquent nod to France's own colonial endeavors. This juxtaposition exposes the hypocrisy of imperial ambitions, unmasking the illusion of noble principles while serving personal interests. The irony is palpable: nations that proclaimed the virtues of blending cultures embraced their own ethnocentric agendas. "Yo, Ho, Ho" transcends its physical form to become an illuminating commentary on history, power dynamics, and cultural entanglements. Gregory, the unknown artist, wields symbolism as a potent tool to question conventional narratives, encouraging viewers to peel back layers of deception, reflect upon the narratives that shaped empires, and confront the intoxication of dominance. In its depth, the artwork invites viewers to contemplate the darkness lurking behind the gilded surface, prompting them to consider the stories we tell ourselves and the illusions we perpetuate.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 19.25 in (48.9 cm)Width: 28.25 in (71.76 cm)Depth: 1.75 in (4.45 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1970s
  • Condition:
    New framing.
  • Seller Location:
    Pasadena, CA
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU825835221252

More From This Seller

View All
"Cabin by the Lake at Dusk" Midcentury Modern Landscape Oil Painting
Located in Pasadena, CA
“The important thing is not to find, but to seek ». These words by André Gide are deeply echoed in this midcentury oil painting, which offers no answers, but invites us on a quest: t...
Category

Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Paintings

Materials

Paint

Mixed Media Portrait #3 by Judy Pike
Located in Pasadena, CA
Judith Minna Pike December 19, 1942- October 18, 2019 This portrait made using a combination of unblending and blending pastels gives this work greater variety, softer edges, and ...
Category

Late 20th Century American Paintings

Materials

Paper

Mixed Media Portrait #2 by Judy Pike
Located in Pasadena, CA
Judith Minna Pike December 19, 1942- October 18, 2019 Mixed media painting of a young thoughful woman, sitting comfortably. Pike used many different brush techniques when painting...
Category

1990s American Paintings

Materials

Paper

Mixed Media Portrait #1 by Judy Pike
Located in Pasadena, CA
Judith Minna Pike December 19, 1942- October 18, 2019 Portrait of a woman sitting with her eyes closed, resting her head on her hand. The texture of this piece is stunning. If y...
Category

Late 20th Century American Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

"Woman and Her Cat" Mixed Media Artwork by Rupert Picott
By Rupert Picott
Located in Pasadena, CA
The work is a lively portrayal of an African nude woman in her bedroom. Under the bed, a discontent cat harbors grudges against its owner robbing its yellow cushion. The painting is ...
Category

Late 20th Century Senegalese Modern Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Paper

Mixed-Media of a Motorcyclist by Avant Garde Disney Artist Walter Peregoy
By Walter Peregoy
Located in Pasadena, CA
Walter Peregoy (1925 2015) was an American artist acclaimed for his Avant Garde style. He is also known for his work at Disney, Hanna-Barbera, and Format Films during the mid-20th ce...
Category

1990s American Modern Drawings

Materials

Wood, Paper

You May Also Like

Mixed Media Work by Scott Kerr
Located in Dallas, TX
Scott Kerr is a self-taught Contemporary Abstract Artist. As a young boy, he was exposed to the art world by his father through the works of a local Texas artist, David Brownlow. Ama...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Mid-Century Modern Paintings

Materials

Paint

Mixed-Media Painting by Purvis Young, Untitled, Circa 1990
By Purvis Young
Located in Miami, FL
Mixed-media work by artist Purvis Young. Acrylic on paper, plastic and white metal sign insert cover. Folk Art painted in black, white, pink, yellow, red and green. Work on found obj...
Category

1990s American Folk Art Paintings

Materials

Metal

Untitled, Purvis Young Mixed-Media Painting, 1980s
By Purvis Young
Located in Miami, FL
Abstract mixed-media work by artist Purvis Young. Folk Art portraying bleeding and pregnant figures in a crowd, policemen on horseback and large blue eyes. Young used eyes as symbols...
Category

Vintage 1980s American Folk Art Paintings

Materials

Paint, Reclaimed Wood, Canvas, Paper

Albert Chubac, Mixed Media, circa 1980, France
By Albert Chubac
Located in Nice, Cote d' Azur
Albert Chubac (1925-2008), Composition, Mixed media on paper representing a scale, Signed lower right and numbered 8/8, Framed, circa 1980, France. Measures : Width 85 cm, Height 127 cm. Albert Chubac was born in Geneva in 1920. After studying decorative art, then at the Beaux-Arts in Geneva, he obtained grants to travel to Italy, Algeria, Spain, Egypt and Greece, stages which will mark his work. He settled in 1964 on the Côte d ‘Azur in Aspremont in a very Spartan house, attracted by the light, the sun and the colors of nature. The year 1967 is the year of the establishment of the School of Nice. He will work and exhibit alongside Aman, César, Tinguely, Gilli, Ben, Rayse, etc ... In 1990, it was the consecration with the opening of MAMAC in Nice. Albert Chubac then becomes accessible to the general public. He will use solid primary colors, will develop modifiable structures and then develop the collages in three dimensions. Gradually, he broke away from his classical training and figuration to move towards abstraction through the encounters and influences of contemporary artists. Always in search of simplicity, He will radically limit the plastic means with a reduced palette, geometric shapes and simple gestures to concentrate on minimum conditions of possibility. His work, which lies between constructivism and geometric abstraction, is playful and imbued with the artist's joie de vivre. In 2004, following the major retrospective at the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Nice, he donated around one hundred works to the City of Nice. Albert Chubac died in 2008 in Tourrette-Levens, near Aspremont. Bibliography: - Albert Chubac, MAMAC Nice, Cultures Nice Editions, 2004. - Albert Chubac: exhibition, Nice, Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, January 29 - May 16, 2004. - Albert Chubac, Galerie Harter, 2013. - Albert Chubac, a lifetime of artist, Patrick Boussu and Cynthia Lemesle, South Art éditions, 2021. During the workshop auctions in Nice and Marseille, the Harter Gallery acquired the largest part of his work. Personal exhibitions: - 1950: Personal exhibition in Athens at the Zappéion museum. - 1954: Exhibition at the Arman Gallery in Geneva. - 1956: Exhibition at the Galerie Connaître in Geneva. - 1957: Exhibition at the Galerie La Palette in Zurich. - 1958: Exhibition at the Galerie L’Entracte in Lausanne. - 1960: Exhibition at the World House Gallery in New York. - 1967: Exhibition at the Galerie Loo in Geneva, at the Salon Comparaison in Paris, Aspects in Chexbres in Switzerland. - 1968: “Paintings” exhibitions from March 30 to May 11 at the Galerie Alexandre de la Salle. - 1970: Exhibition at the Maison des Jeunes et de la Culture de Magnan in Nice, at the Maison de la Culture Le Corbusier in Firminy entitled "Chubac recent works" and at the Galerie Royal Luxembourg in Nice. - 1971: Exhibition at the Galerie Germain in Paris and at the Fernand Léger School in Malakoff. - 1972: Exhibition on the village square of Aspremont, at the Galerie Royal Luxembourg in Nice. - 1973: Exhibition at the Galerie Ferrero in Nice. - 1974: Exhibition at Art-club in Antibes. - 1975: Exhibition at the Galerie Jacques Boudin rue de Dijon in Nice. - 1978: Exhibition at the Galerie Anne Roger in Nice. - 1980: Exhibition at the Galerie de la Salle in Saint-Paul de Vence from August 8 to September 9. - 1981: Exhibition at Lieu 5 in Nice from February 13 to March 20. - 1983: Exhibition at the Galerie d'Art Contemporain in Nice, at Anne Roger. - 1984: Exhibition "Lille Nice" at the Galerie GodArt in Lille from April 14 to May 17 and at the Galerie Luisella d´Alessandro in Turin. - 1985: Exhibition in Thonon les Bains at the Galerie Galise. - 1988: Exhibitions at Galerie Argéco in Nice and Galerie Triade in Barbizon - 1989: Exhibitions at the Galerie de la Salle, at Lola Gassin's in Nice, in galleries in Nice - 1990: he made four mobiles for the MAMAC in Nice, Exhibitions at the Galerie François Moulin in Lyon and Golden Gallery, ArtJunction in Nice. - 1991: Exhibition at the Galerie de la Salle in Saint-Paul. - 1992: Exhibitions at the Espace du consulat suisse in Nice, Besançon and opening of the Espace Chubac in Tourrette-Levens. - 1993: Exhibition at the Maison Comoni in Revest-les-Eaux, at the Galerie François Moulin in Lyon. - 1994: Exhibition at the Espace Caravadossi in Aspremont. - 1996: Exhibition at the Espace Dellile in Nice. - 1997: Exhibition at the Galerie de la Salle in Saint-Paul. - 1998: Last personal exhibition at the Galerie de la Salle in Saint-Paul. - 2000: Exhibition at Lympia college in Nice. - 2001: Exhibition at the Espace Chubac in Tourette-Levens. - 2002: Exhibition at the Galerie Scholtès in Nice and in Carcès in the Var entitled "Albert Chubac-Couleurs mobiles". - 2004: Great Albert Chubac retrospective at MAMAC in Nice. - 2011: Permanent exhibition at the Galerie Harter in Nice. - 2012: Exhibition at the Olympia Show in London at the Christopher Jones Gallery and at the Serge Castella Interiors Gallery in Bascara, Spain. - 2013: Exhibition at the Municipal Contemporary Art Gallery of Pochettes in Nice. - 2019/2021: Exhibition of works belonging to the permanent collection of MAMAC in Nice and exhibition "Geometry according to Albert Chubac" at the Galerie Harter in Nice. - 2021/2021: Permanent exhibition at Galerie Atelier 55...
Category

Vintage 1980s French Mid-Century Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

"North American B-25B Mitchell Airplane" by Steve Ferguson, Mixed Media Painting
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Presented is an original mixed media painting by Steve Ferguson, entitled North American B-25B Mitchell Airplane. The work was painted for use on the Fleetw...
Category

Late 20th Century Paintings

Materials

Paint

Bessie Boris "Intersection" Oil and Mixed Media on Paper
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Bessie Boris (Johnstown, PA b. 1917, d. 1993) oil, watercolor, and pastel on paper entitled "Intersection" (1969). Boris placed great emphasis on color and psychologically charged di...
Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Paintings

Materials

Paint

Recently Viewed

View All