On Having No Head

‘On Having No Head’ –

Oil on Canvas. 30x40cm. Part 3 of a self-portrait triptych I was attempting.

It began with a portrait of my head on a purple background in a style reminiscent of 20th Century sci-fi novel covers. Next up was a still life inspired by Conor Walton using a geometrical composition focusing on several influential books Ive read over the years (including ‘On Having No Head’ by Douglas Harding, the English philosopher whos work this triptych is based). Finally this canvas painted from the point of view of the first person, from Zer0 inches, if you will, painted in a looser style than the preceeding couple of more refined, more cerebral paintings.

The idea is that when you look out from Zero inches you have no head. Where you thought your head was there is actually only the world(on present evidence) Only a black hole of empty space, capacity for everything. Max Ernst has many drawings in this style.