For Whom the Bell Tolls
The sound of the bell from the Pierhead Building that rung brought celebration of further wealth to the Welsh nation. Momentous times for the dockland enjoyed by the recipients of such and industry in a Victorian age.
However, at times it was a warning of an emergency, a ship caught in the infamous fourteen metre tidal swell, keeling over, losing its cargo and lives on board, as it desperately tries to dock in the safety of Cardiff Bay.
Here, a dock worker who, as an ex-sailor, grabs the bell rope and rings for help. The "Big Ben of Wales" summons all hands.
His, shows the favoured tattoos of sailors of the 1890’s. “Hold Fast” was an expression of life and death amongst superstitious sailors, representing their strength so that they could hold on to the ropes and rigging and not fall to their demise.
The tattoo of a bird represented freedom, courage, and travel. In particular, the Bluebird brought good luck, sweet seas and bright blue skies, and the nickname Bluebirds was given to Riverside AFC in the 1890s when they changed their colours to blue and white and became Cardiff City FC.
The blue grainy tattoo ink was synonymous with sailors whose bodies were covered with tattoos, which faded with age and the experience of life at sea and the devilment of the dockland of Cardiff Bay.
Ian MacKenzie
Ian Mackenzie is an artist based in South Wales. He works in rich detailed oils on canvas. He has a unique eye for colour and precision and as such many of his paintings represent a photorealism style.
Ians influence to paint comes from the study of the subject, the emotion involved and the interaction with the surrounding environment.
Many of his commissioned pieces have enthused not only the recipient, but also the painter himself by the overwhelming emotion of their positive reaction.
Ian says "this reaction drives me to achieve more. In the first instance art allows me the escape we all desire. But it is the journey of creating a piece of art for someone else that intrigues me giving consideration to the response of the recipient come the final brush stroke"
His work is influenced by the contemporary paintings of Mitch Griffiths, closely followed by Mathieu Bassez and Istvan Sandorfi. He is also an admirer of the master of light and dark, Caravaggio.
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At Blackwater we are able to arrange international delivery on all of our artwork. Please contact our team on +44 (0)2920 349 819 .
Alternatively you can contact us via email at hello@blackwatergallery.co.uk