The National College
Dermot Finn
Heaven and earth are ruthless,
and treat the myriad creatures as straw dogs
[Lao Tzu]
The work produced for this exhibition pay homage to the masters of the past and present who have dealt with in their work the difficult realities of humanity. These images are bits of sorrow snatched from media imagery, previous artists and my imagination. They attempt to reflect the preoccupation of man with death, struggle and murder.
Seven trees
Baring strange fruit
Blood on the leaves
And blood at the roots
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the popple trees
Pastoral scene
Of the Gallant south
Them big bulging eyes and the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolia clean and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh
Here is a fruit
For the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather for the wind to suck
For the sun to rot
