Dahlias all the way down

2019:3

The title derives from the expression ‘Turtles all the way down’ which alludes to the mythological idea that the earth is carried on the back of a giant turtle. This turtle is itself carried on the back of a larger turtle and so on ad infinitum. 

The picture includes the idea of self-reference, in that the card leaning against the vase is a reproduction of the whole picture. In practical terms this called for a succession of renders. In the first the card is blank. The result of this render is then pasted onto the card and the process repeated – not quite ad infinitum.

An artist friend commented that she thought the piece would be greatly improved if the card was a bit damaged, wrinkled, foxed etc. Absolutely right. I might have another go at it someday.