Medusa Rising
Oil on Canvas,
US$
712
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Medusa Rising
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Details
Oil on Canvas
oil on canvas
W: 700mm x H: 700mm x D: 25mm
W: 28" x H: 28" x D: 1"
Approx. Weight: 0.5kg
This work is
unframed
Price
US$ 712
Scale
About "Medusa Rising"
I came across the story of Medusa while researching a piece of ceramic work. I was shocked at the inherent patriarchal nature of the Greek Myths and had never been struck so clearly!
Of course I have encountered these myths before, but the inherent patriarchal bias never occurred to me within this new-found context.
Recent shifting global dynamics and sweeping revelations of shockingly distorted narratives written to favour and hence legitimise unfair power games of 'victors' gave me a new context from which to review the Medusa myth in particular.
I felt that Medusa had been wronged and that her decapitation and her demonisation was NO VICTORY but a ruthless slaughter of 'the feminine'.
I also felt that her punishment for being raped was vindictive and based on jealous revenge and perhaps has some link to the reason why some cultures stone women who have been raped.
Having being raped by Poseidon (to whom Athena was attracted) and then having being punished for desecrating her temple (no accountability for Poseidon of course) is an OUTRAGE to a non patriarchal paradigm!! Period.
I feel we are living in a time when ALL PREVIOUS PATRIACHAL NARRATIVES whether religious, political, philosophical, need to undergo reassessment as they have distorted and twisted humanitarian interactive narratives.
Having myself survived a traumatic childhood of victimisation and bullying, and being ripe for degeneration into drug addiction and possible suicide, I had to re-investigate my childhood from a completely rationalised perspective to try and understand my dynamics and to reassess my context, if I was to emerge as a rational adult not hell bent on buying into the patriarchal mind set and making everyone else suffer!!
This of course has become the story of my life and some aspect of this is covered in my novel "TELL TALE".
ART and self expression, reading and research became a guiding tool through which I was to negotiate my healing.
In order to heal I had to forego the dominant patriarchal paradigm as all it afforded was victimisation and punishment. Clearly this was not for me.
The point here is that if I could discover a healing process which had worked (by and large) for me, then why not apply this reassessment to patriarchal outmoded paradigms which everyone takes for granted, yet no longer serves new perspectives in this rapidly changing world?
We cannot continue under this guise any longer as the world demands a more equitable and harmonious interaction.
Hence Medusa Rising.
Within the knowledge of her mistreatment and placing a clear equitable gaze at her mis-punishment, and realising how patriarchal narratives have brought about suffering and domination which is becoming more and more insane as evidenced in global and domestic dynamics, the Medusa myth is ripe for creative re-investigaton.
We therefore need to understand by beginning with the realisation that her slaying was an act of COWARDICE and is not in the least bit 'heroic'.
In short:
Medusa had been raped in Athena's temple ((for her beauty)) and then punished by turning her skin greenish and head of snakes by Athena. Any man who looked into her eyes in fear was turned to stone.
The reason why I claim the slaying was NOT an act of heroism is that Perseus (her slayer) could not overcome her gaze and used trickery (the mirror) to slay her. He is thus seen as having OUTWITTED her and hence the victor. That is a specifically patriarchal affirmation.
She was tricked into decapitation -her head becoming a potent weapon- and her slayer declared a hero!
This narrative is RIDDLED with patriarchal fear....and distorted with with patriarchal presumption.
Medusa in my painting is thus depicted as 'rising' as she is rightfully angry as she reclaims her power i.e. her gaze, while at the same time being in indignation of her mythological (i.e. past) treatment.
I have depicted her with dreadlocks (which of course can still be interpreted as snakes) to modernise the myth.
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View all 70 works by Helge Olle Janssen
About Helge Olle
Photographer: Gerald Botha of Stella Nova Studios, Kloof, KZN 2016
Costume design and construction, make-up, concept: Helge Janssen.
The period of disaster has lifted. PRICE of works has been updated.
My art is formed through a combination of myth, psyche, archetype and innovation drawn from life's many many influences...and has even amazed me with its portent...drawn from a deeply intuitive cognitive consciousness. We have so much more information as our source of inspiration amid a myriad of vying energies.
With the current madness and orchestrated insanity busy bombing our minds daily, with full intention to DISORIENTATE, OBFUSCATE and DEMORALISE our lives, we have to stand strong and focused.
It is more important than ever that these moronic forces that are hell bent on subjugating the world to its morass of dubious and despicable control mechanisms by robbing us of our sovereignty are defeated. It is a GIVEN that their plans are so DELUDED that they will never succeed. The mere fact that they even THINK that their plan will succeed is alarming enough. It has FAILURE built into it. What it boils down to is that they are trying to take as many people as they can with them. It is THEIR end game. It is THEIR fear. It is THEIR stupidity.
And of course being shadow banned as an artist is shameful. But the more I am ignored, hidden, the more powerful my work becomes. It is a given. Thank you in advance.
LATEST UPDATE: FB has ripped me apart! They have deleted all of my platforms for violating 'instagram's community standards. I had tried to remove myself from instagram a few years ago but my efforts failed....so I clean forgot about it. However, I became aware that when I post to my art pages that the post is also shared to instagram. FB does not tell me exactly what it is that I have done that constitutes this drastic response. When I follow the links to 'appeal' I am sent a 'verification' code that will allow me to make an appeal, but when I enter the verification code and require my ORIGINAL password, it keeps telling me that I have entered the wrong password. When I type in my phone number (another option) it tells me that no such number exists. I am told that I have 179 days within which to lodge an appeal. That boils down to a six month ban/...and, in the mean time a 'discreetly blatant' form of CREATIVE ASSASSINATION!!
When artists are made to feel that they have as much significance as another brick in the wall......KNOW that society has been completely INVERTED.
Price Range
US$ 56-12,461
Email
Exhibitions
too numerous to mention but held a RETROSPECTIVE of nine paintings on an invite from artist/filmmaker Aryan Kaganof at his VIRGINS exhibition at the KZNSA art gallery 2002. I also performed a solo experimental piece, plus showcased some fashion garments at the opening.
Also a solo show at Chilliplum restaurant, Hillcrest 2013.
"The mechanism whereby change happens in a democracy is to speak out. And if nobody listens, then to speak louder" - David Lewis.
Education
Natal Teachers' Senior Diploma III (Botany and Zoology)
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