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Yellow celt 1994,
Oil on canvas © Paul McCartney |
McCartney's preoccupation with his Celtic ancestors is to be seen in a variety of facets of his artistic and musical activities. His symphonic work "Standing Stone", for example, deals with Celtic myths. One example from his series of paintings "Celtics" is "Yellow celt". The whole of the centre of the picture is taken up by an oversized statuesque figure, whose disproportionately long limbs - taken from a Celtic relic, just like the face and the "hat" - suggest an expressionistic use of shapes. This central figure has the same unmistakably Celtic features that McCartney has used in a number of pictures: the mask-like face with only a hint of a mouth, slits for eyes and a square nose-piece. Other primeval features are the dagger stuck in the waistband and the uninhibitedly displayed erection, both symbols of power and fertility. This figure is flanked on the right by the antique symbol of wisdom, a golden owl perched on an orb. It is beating its wings as though trying to impart a little of its wisdom. On the left-hand side facial features appear which also seem to be communicating with the figure in the centre. Perhaps a Celtic barbarian to contrast with the antique symbol of wisdom. The picture shows strong evidence of the painting process: scratches which have the effect of graphic lines, reinforcing the dynamism, and McCartney's fingerprints in the bottom left-hand corner. Here too the Celtic theme is embedded in an imaginary landscape.
PAUL McCARTNEY paintings
, Kunstforum Lÿz, Siegen, 1. Mai bis 25. Juli 1999
Konzeption & Organisation der Ausstellung: Kultur!Büro.
Kreis Siegen-Wittgenstein
Paintings © Paul McCartney. Photographs of the artist © Estate
of Linda McCartney
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