Minotaur

Inspired by the recurring theme in Surrealist art today's post will be focusing on the Minotaur myth.
The Minotaur is the child of Pasiphae and either a sacred bull of the god Poseidon or Zeus in the form. Naturally the Minotaur was born with the head of a bull and the body of a man, his name was Asterion.

The Minotaur by George Fredrick Watts, 1885.

Minotaur Caressing a Sleeping Woman by Pablo Picasso, 1933-34.

The Minotaur was kept in a labyrinth beneath King Minos's (Pasiphae's husband) court and placated with human sacrifices from Athens.

Theseus came to Crete as one of these sacrifices to kill the Minotaur and thus save the people of Athens.

Cover of Weird Tales January 1945, cover art by Margaret Brundage.

Lucky for Theseus, Ariadne (daughter of Minos and Pasiphae) was willing to sell out her half brother. She gave him some string and held onto one end so he wouldn't get lost in the Labyrinth.

Theseus killed the Minotaur.

Theseus and the Minotaur by Chris Harding.

The Minotaur, Steadfast and Persistent by Shag, 1999.

And everyone lived happily ever after... except the Minotaur... oh and Theseus got bored of Ariadne and ditched her on some island. She did meet Dionysus there though and they proved quite the happy couple. I guess that's something.

Surrealism Exhibition

Yesterday I went to the Surrealism exhibition at the Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane (there’s still a few weeks left if you want to check it out, ends October 2^nd).

Here are a few of my favourites from the show;

Chimère by Max Ernst, 1928.

Named for the mythical Chimera, I personally think it looks more like a Harpy. The colours were more vibrant in person.

The Red Model by René Magritte, 1935.

Heron of Alexandria by Victor Brauner, 1939.

At the gallery this painting seemed to have an inner glow, it captivated me.

Le Labyrinth by André Masson, 1938.

The concept of the labyrinth and the myth it relates to has always fascinated me. The blurb beside this painting stated that this was an inversion of the myth in which the labyrinth is trapped inside the Minotaur. I also really liked Masson's The Secret of the Labyrinth.

The Acropolis by Paul Devaux, 1966.

I'm so sad I couldn't find a better quality picture for you. The levels in this painting were delightful, each time I looked at it I was surprised. The sinister beauty was mesmerising.

If you live near Brisbane you really should check it out, the exhibition and history surrounding the Surrealist movement will blow you away.

Vladimir Kush

So I'm sick. That's right I have a cold and it's making me utterly miserable, OK maybe not utterly but a little bit. I'm somewhat sheered by the fact Suite101 has accepted me as a writer, I'm teaching myself to play the Ukulele and I've been looking at the fabulously surreal art of Vladimir Kush which I will share with you now.

 Above the Sea Level, 2008.

 Arrival of the Flower Ship, 2008.

 Atlas of Wonder, 2008.

 Born from the Sea, 2008.

 Divine Geometry, 2008.

Knight of the Shiny Shield, 2008.
How good would this have been for my warrior post.


To keep up to date with the words and pictures I'm sharing now head on over to my new website, www.sarahfallon.net.  I'm talking reading, writing and all kinds of daydreamy things.