This was made for an exhibition in the Eysium Artspace in Swansea entitled 'What Would Your Mother Think?' The original idea for this piece of work was for lots of different men's bodies, but applying the sort of gaze more attributed to pictures of women taken for men. Removing the heads and objectifying them as well as I could. I had photocopied my original drawing of Ray's chest to be able to manipulate it, using colour, and to basically get a better handle on the image. It took me a while to produce the appropriate tone from the photocopier, and I was left with a pile the same image, but all subtly different, Like a screen print. On realising I could reproduce Ray's face as many times as I desired, I gave up the idea of using other men and my workspace became a shrine. This became a thing of wonder in the studio, and I decided that that reaction to it, and the feeling of joy I felt from looking at it, warranted it being exhibited . The final work is basically how the photocopies were arranged in my workspace, only expanded to fit the new wall and with the addition of a canvas from a previous flirtation with the idea of a Ray themed work, and a few other bits of paraphernalia.
I rather hope he would be amused, rather than frightened.
