Macedonian Madonna

Bob Georgeson, Macedonian Madonna, 2013, Digital photography

One from the 'Worlds in Collision' series...

Ecstasy

Bob Georgeson, Ecstasy, 2010, photomontage

The Lord does indeed move in mysterious waves. Waves? I must be stark waving mad! I should have said ways! No mystery in this one from 'The Brides of Christ' series...faith takes second place to desire...at least she's over 18...

The Implicit Order - Drifters

 
Senseless murder might not be a theme that many musicians would base a work on, but then The Implicit Order (I/O) is not exactly your average concept. Disdaining any attempt at classification I/O is both highly original and constantly defying preconceptions. The most recent album 'Drifters' is dedicated to a young homeless woman called Sherry, who had been befriended by I/O. She ended up being murdered after being picked up by a drifter. So, why put out an album on such a subject?

I/O describes the album as a "cautionary tale to anyone who is down on their luck and looking for a place to belong". Sombre but never morbid the album touches the heartstrings without ever becoming sensationalist. The opening track 'Missing Youth' sets the tone with evocations of children, our children, and then counterpoints with hints of unrest. "Daily Dull Lives" hints at the mentally disturbed among us. Other tracks such as 'Every Year 1000's of Young People Disappear' and 'Small Towns Hold The Biggest Secrets' paint a picture of the darkness inherent in our societies. And the 9 minute 'Sherry (Car Wheels On A Gravel Road)' confronts us with the sadness of the knowledge that all victims leave families behind them. It is their suffering we find it hard to endure...

This is not the sort of music that one would play at a party, it may not even sit comfortably with a second listen, but it certainly is worthy of one serious listen, even if it is to remind ourselves that the world we live in can still be an evil place, and that great art is not just about entertainment, but enlightenment. A courageous, yet sensitive masterwork. Highly recommended...

You can check out The Implicit Order here...

Playing with Jeffrey's balls

Bob Georgeson, Playing with Jeffrey's balls, 200?, photomontage

Another forgotten one from the archive. I guess you have to know your Australian artists to get the sordid twist inherent here...

Truth or Dare?

Bob Georgeson, Truth or Dare?, 2013, Digital photography

It's a worry...old style arcade game next to automatic teller machines. Try your luck?

lost friends

greater the distances grow
between us
loyalty unknown
after brotherhood sown
closed emotion

friendships grow with years
and sink with tears

when respect turns to fear

Funky Bunny

Max Robinson used to spend a lot of time out in the shed in the back yard in Canberra. The shed was not only my son's bedroom but a gathering place and hang out for all the young crew in the Inner North. Among many unmentionable practices there was always a jam session going on. Max was one of those likeable young men, a little lost in direction but a great bass player, and always friendly, polite and appreciative of some home cooked spaghetti bolognese. He moved down to Melbourne, decided that having a regular job was not his thing and hit the centre of town as a street performer. The rest is history...

You can follow him on Facebook, and there are a number of other videos on YouTube. He has also been featured in an article published in The Australian newspaper weekend edition. Good on ya Max! So, nothing left to do but get down with da wabbit!

Gyges and the Lydian Queen

Bob Georgeson, Gyges and the Lydian Queen, 2009, Photomontage

What better way to start the merry month of May with the sordid little tale of Gyges and the Lydian Queen. According to Herodotus in his 'Histories' (c. 5th century B.C.) Gyges was right hand man to Candaules, king of Lydia, which sat in present day western Turkey. Candaules was enamoured of his wife's beauty, so much so that he insisted on Gyges seeing her naked. Gyges was reluctant, but the king insisted, so he arranged for Gyges to sneak into her boudoir to watch her undress. She spotted him in his moment of voyeurism, caught between reality and desire, and compromised him with the request that he kill the king and become her lover and usurp the throne, or she would have him killed. He reluctantly (?) chose to live and carried out the queen's wishes, banishing her sons to present day Cyprus. They grew into men and returned to Lydia, killing Gyges and their mother to reclaim the throne, and everybody lived happily ever after...

There are variations of this story but I like Herodotus's version in his tales of the Persians wars with the Greeks. It is interesting that Herodotus puts the cause of these wars as conflicts arising over a woman...