Judith MASON
from the
PELMAMA PERMANENT ART COLLECTION
"Movement of a Lion", 1968 - oil/board, mixed media - 90x183 cm
PELMAMA Register MAMS JMAS 68/01
Loan Collection:
Pretoria Art Museum, Pretoria, 1992
Provenance:
The Haenggi Foundation Inc., Johannesburg
Gallery 21, Johannesburg
Gallery 101, Johannesburg
Work illustrated:
ARTLOOK 28, Johannesburg - March, 1969, p. 6
ARTLOOK 33, Johannesburg - August, 1969, p.30
Artist's Explanation:
“This is an ambiguous painting in that it can read purely as a description of a lion or as a development of two theological ideas. In legends the lion was a symbol of resurrection as early naturalists believed the male lion breathed on his cubs three days after their birth and they, born dead, received life. The form in the landscape below the line has evolved from an idea of Edith Sitwell in her poem about atomic warfare called ‘Shadow of Cain’ where the splitting of the atom is mentioned as well the sepulchre and the womb. Two slices of eroded cow sculls were used to represent the split sepulchre, enclosed in a uterine form. The colours are derived from the Transvaal winter veldt.”