The Creation Of Anarchy Divine 

Curator: Dave Macdowell's "The Creation Of Anarchy Divine" is a swirling composition executed with acrylic paint. What strikes you first about it? Editor: Utter chaos, frankly. The juxtaposition of the fairy tale castle on the left with the mushroom cloud in the background…it's jarring, unsettling. There's a strong sense of impending doom contrasted with…well, childish imagery? Curator: It is rather visually arresting, isn’t it? I think Macdowell attempts a sort of updated vanitas still life. See how these symbols of vanity, like the cola bottle and rose, coexist with reminders of mortality—nuclear war, that strange devilish figure? Editor: Precisely. It feels like a pointed critique of consumer culture and our collective march towards oblivion, presented through a pop-surrealist lens. The almost naive art style gives it a disarming quality, drawing you in before you realize you're staring into the abyss. The man with the crown, is that supposed to be the artist, complicit in all of this? Curator: Possibly. The figure has this…absurd blend of religious and scientific symbolism around him. Consider the visual nod to the iconic pose from traditional portraits, elevated stance despite the mechanical contraption he seems bound to. The artist might implicate themself in systems of power while simultaneously being bound by them. Editor: And it speaks to the way these seemingly disparate elements—beauty, destruction, divinity, technology—are actually deeply intertwined in our modern reality. The inscription that reads 'We're all F***ed!' adds to the dystopian and dark humour. It’s impossible to look away, which is the most troubling part. We are actively participating in the problem! Curator: That line highlights this push-pull between playful satire and outright social commentary. Macdowell engages with figuration while borrowing from movements such as Fauvism and even graffiti art to reflect modern concerns. He uses bold colours that shock us. Editor: It leaves a haunting echo. One walks away pondering our role in this… divine anarchy, and the futures we are so carelessly creating. Curator: An unsettling commentary that challenges viewers to consider their place within this chaotic and beautiful catastrophe. It forces uncomfortable self-reflection.