Mind Games (Matilda) - Original

Mark Davies British Artist

  • My concept, set within a classroom at Crunchem Primary School plays out a number of examples where the characters embark on mind games against each other to gain control, where bullies prey on the ‘weak’ and the timid expose a darker side.

    Is Matilda that powerful in mind that she really can create such pranks and scares or is it all an act? If it is an act then an act of what? Key areas of interest where this is present within the scene are picked out with magical detail, is this a phenomenon or just your eyes playing tricks on you?

    Key battles within the story are shown within the scene, Matilda vs Miss Trunchball who mocks and scalds yet is clearly of a fragile disposition. Trunchball vs Miss Honey where the hollow digs at the young woman are small fry compared to the lies and deceit that she has committed. The battle between TV and books is played out, with not only Matilda showing her destructive force against the devils’ box but the librarian Mrs Phelps getting torn into for her love of books and support of Matilda. Is Matilda working alone? Is this all the work of just one child or have others been pushed one step closer, where they are about to break?

    As well as the dominant visual signs of disruption and rebellion within the classroom there are subtle scrawled messages on the back wall and the ageing desks that expand on this, I went for this especially as it has that side to it that mimics the classroom banter and name calling, petty albeit with a dollop of truth as the ignition. There is anger towards Matildas’ parents scrawled against the wall that builds to the point where a car gearbox has been smashed into a TV. This is a reference to her Dad being a mechanic who fills customers gearboxes with sawdust to swindle money. Driving (excuse the pun) the metal down into the TV is a sign of absolute disgust at Matildas’ parents who embrace the TV and how they treat people that trust them.

    The battle between dark and light is evident in this piece and shown by the contrasting cold and industrial looking interior, spooky staircases, corridors and claustrophobic cupboards that we all remember compared to beautiful lighting and clear white walls. The room itself has been created from scratch, to deliver an intriguing scene that offers so much detail to study but where the intense detail is complemented with open spaces.

    If you look deeper you will see that the darkest example of control and bullying is shown at opposing corners of the scene. You have the haunting chalk message on the blackboard (do ghosts really exist? Or do people just know too much?) that shows that Miss Trunchball has been keeping Miss Honey’s money from her. If you then look to the piano you will see how the magical detail that surrounds the books and leads to the hammer and then onto the smashed up part of the piano to reveal where the moneys been hidden.

    All in all the piece showcases the destructive powers of the mind when used for ones own benefit, to control and confuse others to the point where you cant believe what your own eyes are telling you.
    1. Released: 2016
    2. Collection: Storyteller
    3. Specification: 1 of 1 original framed embellished canvas, hand signed by artist.
    4. Image Size: 48” x 36"
    5. Framed Size: 54” x 41"

Category: spo-default, spo-disabled

Type: Original Artwork




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