John Stark, an
amazing British artist has created a body of art entitled
"Apiculture" (beekeeping). The theme of
anonymous beekeepers engaged in ritual beekeeping is timeless, set somewhere in
the past or distant future. Like most
good artwork it is an ambiguous metaphor
who's interpretation is subjective to the observer and evolving over time. John describes his artwork as “a really nice
open metaphor, that can be read in so many different ways. All through the
history of literature and art, the beehive has been cited as an example of
utopian society, of a selfless existence. Do these hives represent the world?
An idealised world? Art, even? Are the keepers the artists, producing the art,
or the collectors harvesting the art?”
The beehives and
beekeepers form the narrative instrument to delve into the spiritual
existential meaning of life. "I
see painting as a way of being, it is at least a mystical path and I believe in
its power as a pursuit for truth where notions of the self are reflected upon.
The result is then allegorical for the viewer who projects on to these open
narratives traits from their own perception of their reality. The intention is
that the works operate as a gateway for us to pass through together (in the
metaphysical sense) while simultaneously tapping into the collective
unconscious.
I
can’t name a direct inspiration for this, although I have been listening to a
lot of Buddhist teachings recently and looking at the symbolism from the school
of The Fourth Way which refers to a concept used by G.I. Gurdjieff to describe
an approach to self-development that helps to realize ones potential by
transcending the body and achieving a higher state of consciousness. It is
thought that we are living in a waking sleep and there are various ways to
focus our attention and energy so that a range of inner abilities become
possible. So it’s something inherent and built into the work and these current
paintings refer back to ideas explored in my earlier works which attempt to
tackle issues of the self, individuation and ‘the spiritual’ by replacing old
mythologies and placing myself in the cannon of an art historical
context."
I will never look at beekeeping the same way again. Check out John Stark's art at his gallery.