Pillars
Paintings of ancient cultures from around the world,
morphed into modern interpretations.
Reviews of a recent exhibition of 'Pillars'
Carol Dance's artwork is an affirmation of creativity, how history influences or changes modern times, and more importantly, it makes you think deeply about your own existence. 'Pillars' represents a unique and quirky genre: 'neo-surrealism'. J. Wong, Weekend Notes.
Carol Dance is known as a neo-surrealist and her exquisite work is on display at the Stirrup Gallery. Basil Naimet, Innercity Weekender.
A powerful and intriguing exhibition. Art Post, what's on.
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Keeping Civilisation Lively
Keeping Civilisation Lively portrays two circus characters creating new people who are fluid, colourful and very likely to change shape. The ribbon dancer’s creations will change form many times. The clown’s paper planes will also keep changing locations. Civilisations flourish because of the creative people. The pillar represents civilisation. Civilisations place their creative people on pedestals.
150 x 96 cm
Acrylics
For sale $6500
Aphrodite Shares the Pedestal
Women are put on pedestals for two opposite reasons. In this painting, Disney’s Snow White and the Aphrodite don’t look at one another. This graceful statue of the goddess Aphrodite has intrigued and fascinated since its discovery on the island of Melos in 1820. It was probably sculpted around 100 BC.
76 x 51cm
Acrylics
Sold
Balancing Machine
137 x 106 cm
Acrylics
Sold
Path to the Future
This painting is a history of humankind. The Neanderthal morphs into the ‘noble savage’ who morphs into the ‘conqueror’ who morphs into the optimistic future seeker all resting on the classic ‘pillar of civilisation’. The pillar is precariously perched yet maintains stable. The four people rest on a lintel that morphs from the rustic wooden to classic marble. The pillar’s decoration on the left is a primitive motif, and the one on the right is a modern motive. The infinity icon (the eyes) on the right, contrasts with the teeth on the primitive side. The computer icon for moving forward on the right contrasts with the teeth on the primitive side. The feathers on the savage and the future seeker and the wreath of the conqueror say that all through history, humans have decorated themselves with natural objects. Similarly, the teeth necklace of the savage and the pearl necklace of the future seeker evoke the universal admiration of natural beauty.
112 x 81 cm
Acrylics
For sale $9000
This painting is a history of humankind. The Neanderthal morphs into the ‘noble savage’ who morphs into the ‘conqueror’ who morphs into the optimistic future seeker all resting on the classic ‘pillar of civilisation’. The pillar is precariously perched yet maintains stable. The four people rest on a lintel that morphs from the rustic wooden to classic marble. The pillar’s decoration on the left is a primitive motif, and the one on the right is a modern motive. The infinity icon (the eyes) on the right, contrasts with the teeth on the primitive side. The computer icon for moving forward on the right contrasts with the teeth on the primitive side. The feathers on the savage and the future seeker and the wreath of the conqueror say that all through history, humans have decorated themselves with natural objects. Similarly, the teeth necklace of the savage and the pearl necklace of the future seeker evoke the universal admiration of natural beauty.
112 x 81 cm
Acrylics
For sale $9000
Tower of Babel
140 x 110 cm
Acrylics
For sale $9000
I am not Sitting, I am Waiting
The writer waits for inspiration.
60 x 45 cm
Acrylics
For sale $400
The Creators
The happy clown and the perky dancer on a tall pedestal use a balloon and a dance ribbon to create new people who reach from the heavens to the earth and embrace the pedestal. They create, and civilisation flourishes.
122 x 102 cm
Acrylics
Sold
The Amateur Existentialist
60 x 48 cm
Acrylics
Sold
Precarious Perch
Acrylics
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Mother Nature Unleashes Free Will
Mother Nature unfurls the double helix, releasing free will. Civilisation, represented by the pillar, survives because of our ability to think and act for ourselves. Nothing is predetermined. The ornaments on the corners of the lintel feature Aristotle on the left, who believed in free will, and Sophocles on the right (the chain side) who believed in predestination, as in his famous play Oedipus Rex.
137 x 110 cm
Acrylics
For sale $4500
The Civiliser
A Caryatid (a sculpted female figure serving as a pillar on the Acropolis in Athens) is an idealised symbol of women as the world's civilisers. Modern day admirers come to life when the image of the man and the child overlap with the women-pillar.
130 x 97 cm
Acrylics
SOLD
See no, Hear no, Speak no: Civilisation Survives the Clowns
Civilisation survives the clowns. This work was a semi-finalist in the 2016 Arte Laguna Prize, an international art competition, Venice. The ancient proverb ‘See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil’ is known the world over. Here Carol has created three pillars of civilisation, one with eyes, one with ears and one with a closed mouth. These pillars refuse to do the ‘evil’ even as the circus characters perched on top disobey the proverb. But the painting is not static. The viewer can see what will happen next. The birds will attack the evildoers and civilisation will survive the clowns. The clouds protect the pillars of civilisations’ eyes, ears and mouth.
Acrylics
80 x 138 cm
Sold
Civilisation survives the clowns. This work was a semi-finalist in the 2016 Arte Laguna Prize, an international art competition, Venice. The ancient proverb ‘See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil’ is known the world over. Here Carol has created three pillars of civilisation, one with eyes, one with ears and one with a closed mouth. These pillars refuse to do the ‘evil’ even as the circus characters perched on top disobey the proverb. But the painting is not static. The viewer can see what will happen next. The birds will attack the evildoers and civilisation will survive the clowns. The clouds protect the pillars of civilisations’ eyes, ears and mouth.
Acrylics
80 x 138 cm
Sold
Agamemnon
Agamemnon’s gold death mask juxtaposed with the Greek TV cartoon character Agamemnon.
88 x 70 cm
Acrylics
Not for sale.
Clowns Balance Civilisation
61 x 61 cm, 87 cm wide
Hangs diagonally
Acrylics
Sold
Clown Saves Eggland
61 x 61 cm, 87 cm wide
Hangs diagonally
Acrylics
For sale $300
The Clown’s Totally Rational World
54 x 54 cm, 74 cm wide
Hangs diagonally
Acrylics
Sold