My current show in copenhagen (www.adcovenue.com) is basically an answer to how i got from the 'Winnie the Pooh' of the A.A Milne books (i'm a big fan) to the dictator character of the 'Pooh Wars' series i started playing around with in 2002. 

The original impetus was of course highly whimsical, so in this show i try to create a narrative using the original characters, i rarely do themed shows. 

Below is an explanation of the show and a description of the 'hidden extras' or 'easter eggs' as they call it in DVD language. Also included are 2D and 3D work that are not related to Pooh but in the show anyway.

The extras vary from a story about the rising of Pooh Bear from his former status of Bear of Little Brain to General, Ruler and Dictator, to hidden codes and symbology as well as various objects some of them pertinent to the story some just unrecognised uses of recognisable objects. (Incidentally all of my work involves hidden elements, heavy use of symbology, juxtaposition and metaphor).

So, onwards...

Instrumental to our heroes rise to power (The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui) is the gaining of a brain, a direct reference to Mikhail Bulgakovs  'Heart of a Dog' (note the Bulgakov book in one of the pictures as well as the 'heart and dog' motif decorating the chest of the 'bronze' sculpture). In Heart of a Dog a half dead street dog is implanted with the testes and pituitary gland of a dead working class man by an esteemed scientist. the dog evolves and becomes an unsavoury, disagreeable, slogan bashing, pain in the arse to his creators, a commentary on the rise of the worker under communism to positions of power (and corruption) they were not experienced enough to possess responsibly. This is the path i have chosen for Pooh, this of course is more a comment on human infallibility than the dogs (or the bears). 

Pooh is told he needs the brain by Owl after the "I'm sorry" conversation with a slouching teenage Christopher Robbin. Understandable he feels rejected, lost and confused. Owl simplifies matters and offers Pooh a way to not only relieve these new negative experiences but also to get one back on Christopher. Pooh is operated upon and the new brain emplaced an operation that leaves him with a large scar around the top of his head, carefully concealed by various hats and the laurel wreath he wears in the 'bronze' conquering general sculpture.

There is also a symbolic reference in the 'chop top' appearance of the Pooh War machines with the windows dividing the face from the top of the head and the head full of human controllers.

Who's brain is it you ask? i did promise a murder mystery after all.

Well there are clues. True a moderate knowledge of the Pooh Bear stories would be useful, i myself have been scrutinizing them for months. 

There is a certain order to the pictures so i will follow that as i explain.

In 'I'm sorry...." Poohs friendship with C.R. is seen to fall apart, C.R. is now a teenager and into sex, drugs and rock'n'roll (symbolised by the nude woman hood ornament on the car, the cigarette and the general '50's american greaser look). In the background is his tree home as seen in the original books with smashed windows and darkened door, his naive childhood is behind him. Written along the side of the car under the scribble shadow are insults to C.R. and messages of confusion. The background landscape was taken from the original books, a real pleasure to emulate the line of Mr Sheppard, the original illustrator.

The next picture (although i am ambivalent on this placement) is 'The Adoration of Christopher Robbin', Pooh is seen as slightly more human, maybe this is a dream sequence showing Poohs love of C.R. and his wish to emulate his values and appearance. Pooh is seen throwing away a looking glass (symbol of vanity and narcissism), Poohs friends gather in awe and fear at his feet (possible foreseeing the future) the bees gather in the darkening storm clouds, maybe they understand the implications too. C.R.'s fishing rod is discarded (symbol of childhood idyllness) the string makes a halo above his head. No idea what the car means, but generally in my work it is a metaphor for travel or a journey. Interestingly it is my old 1964 Hillman Minx, the only car i ever owned and one i had to let go off due to upkeep expenses, it was scrapped much to my sadness... maybe that means something?

Under Poohs foot is a lotus, symbol of transformation.

'Pooh and Owl have a Little Chat' is next. owl was who Pooh went to in the books when ever he had a question or problem, Owl is smart but also stupid, certainly not the wisest. Pooh is seen to be saying "What the fuck was all that about!", Owl replies that essentially Pooh being the 'bear of little brain' is doomed to stand still, he is eternally stunted, C.R. as illustrated by the 'evolution' drawing can evolve and grow, but just as you can pin a tail on Eeyore you can also put a new and better brain in Pooh thus evolving (Vitruvian Pooh picture). The conversation is backed up by the books scattered around; Bulgakovs 'Heart of a Dog' and 'Faust', the later having a double meaning as unbeknownst to Pooh he is making a devils deal as illustrated by the 'Satan' signed contract with the words 'Pooh' and 'Brain' featured as well as the demonic shadow behind Owl and the forked tail shadow cast by the teaspoon. Tools for amateur brain surgery are scattered around.

Next i would probable put 'Gathering Honey...' (lots of hidden bits in this but just fun, not cryptic) and the propaganda posters as suggestive of the rise to power and the inevitable war, firstly with the bees and then with Owl. 

In several of the pictures the newly evolved pooh possesses a gun of the popping cork variety, the first story about pooh A.A. Milne wrote shows Christopher Robbin using just such a gun to shoot a balloon that a beleaguered Pooh is suspended from high in the sky. The large painting actually has 'C.R.' carved on the butt of the gun. Classically the defeated give up their weapons to the victor.

Somewhere in here the drawing "'s nothing, jus' some old car" should be placed. Recognise the car? it's Christopher Robbins Cadillac from the first drawing, and in the best 'Psycho' traditions of body disappearance you need to get rid of your victims car generally by dumping it in a swamp. Of course here it is unrecognised by the patrol of Pooh warriors.

And if that isn't enough clues as to whose brain Pooh now possesses in the drawing 'he hath born me on his back a thousand times.' the Hamlet like Pooh caresses a small human skull replete with missing top. Christopher Robbins gun leans against the crate he sits upon, childhood toys and a broken doll lie scattered around.

Poohs prosecution of war on Owl is of course some sort of belated guilt/ vengeance thing, he is partly responsible after all for his new position as dictator of the Hundred Acre Wood. 

There is also an easy way to work it out: none of the other characters are either applicable (being soft toy animals themselves) or human, ergo it has to be Christopher Robins brain.

'Easter Eggs':

NWA6- Now We Are 6 (title of another book written by A.A. Milne

31TUC- CUTIE (smaller of two accompanying pooh bots)

RA38G18- BIGBEAR (larger of two accompanying pooh bots)

KRO9(1,2,3)- PORK (piglet chopper serial numbers)

 

Things to look for:

old school video cassetes used for the deck of the pooh carrier.

spray can nozzles for the gun turrets.

the 'pooh' coke machine in the back of the hanger.

Things to look for;

EEYORE written in Chambord plastic letters across the back of the saddle.

The phallus pommel at the front of the saddle.

'property of barbie' carved into the butt of the chopped Eeyore Barbie horse.

The brain operation scare under the wreath.

The dog and heart decoration on the chest of the armour.

The two seagulls paddling in the pond in the cape.

'Easter Eggs'

KRO9(4)- PORK

3GA5UA5- SAUSAGE

Things to look for:

The rockets shaped and coloured like hot dogs.

The Lego support for the rockets and old school Lego wheels underneath.

The teats and nipples underneath.

Female Piglet painted on the sides.

Small portrait of Pooh on the back wall of the cockpit.

The small roofed chimney 'exhaust' on top of the engine (i have a thing for these dinky old things)

One of the guys is carrying a samurai sword and for some reason loads of water bottles.

'Easter Eggs'

3CNUO8- BOUNCE (Tigger always bounces in the books)

Things to look for:

The column the statue sits on is a dental floss dispenser.

Paws on the front mudguards.

The 'Pooh' coke ad on the back.

The engine inside the hatch is actually a large bee, an odd idea i may explore later, but a symbol of the enslavement of the bees and the control of honey (oil).

Nothing really hidden in this one. Essentially the premise goes; glossy, shiny, happy, soldiers return victorious to mother tearfully offering up fresh food (symbolic of her sacrifice of children). Starry eyed with patriotism her son stands by while Death under the tree quietly looks on. The soldiers in the tank are oblivious to reality, riding on a wave of idealism, the flag waver is 'blinded' by his standard as so many are, believing that a flag (and associated symbols) are more important than the actions, ethics and natural environment one actually lives with.

Writhing in the back unnoticed, screaming for his mother, is a soldier dying from a gut wound, the more realistic end result of idealistic youth. Wounded and amputee soldiers are generally not included in victory parades.

Things to look for:

Christopher Robbins initials on the butt of the rifle Pooh holds.

The Medals and hat badge all have significance. F.O.P. (friend of Piglet), a very small illustration of Pooh, Piglet and C.R. playing Pooh sticks on a bridge taken from the original books. The hat badge is a set of Pooh Sticks.

Pooh and Piglet action figures, and a crushed Owl action figure under Tiggers foot. The Eeyore action figure is a battered old oil tanker.

Piglet has a false jaw and strong man suit, his character is normally cowardly but dreams of great daring.

The mouse on Tiggers back is pointing at Poohs naked groin not the babies, a reference to the fable 'The Emperors New Clothes'. No idea why so many cartoon characters get around without trousers on.

All of his medals and regalia refer to episodes in the books.

'Discoverer of the North Pole'

'Friend Of Piglet'

'Rabbit Companion'

'Champion of Pooh Sticks'

'Eeyore Comforter and Tail Finder'

Essentially the product of looking at too many propaganda posters, the evil bee is a direct postural ripoff of a great old WW1 poster hence the Hornpike helmet. Evil Owl sits upon his shoulder. 

The word 'Hunny' got truncated to 'Hun' quiet by accident, but it was perfect for the piece.

Well it's a reference to Empire Strikes Back really and a bit of old school books for boys stuff, just had to be done. I like the bunny that has keeled over and died of shock.

Although not part of the Pooh Wars show there are 'extras' in the other sculptures exhibited.

N12- SIN 

Sacred Heart of Jesus insignia on the wings.

Crucifix and flower points on the bombs and rockets.

An allegory for Buddhism vs. western belief. 

A group of furiously running figures with 'baggage' burdening their minds pound away on a treadmill, naturally progress is negligible and tiresome (the donkey head), the tank (powered by their work) will gradually move forward to the right (direction of the future in the west ). The Buddha laughing at the comedy of the universe looks to the left (eastern perspective). The letters OHM appear on the front of the treadmill, a sketchy play on words; OHM is the unit of electrical resistance something that no doubt is involved in dynamo style devices like what the men run on. OM is of course the sound of the universe, the origin the beginning, an important part of eastern philosophy and meditation. The joke being that in order to become enlightened one has to give up, stop 'resisting', enlightenment will come within a moment. 

Well it makes sense in my head.

A flight of birds forms across the front of the Buddha, an allusion to transformation and higher states of being.

There are many little details to the piece; the aerial is an acupuncture needle donated by my girlfriend who practices Shiatsu massage, there is a little engine in the bottom drawer and behind the clock there is a small engine room with pipes and gears, the foot of the engineer is to be seen just disappearing through a small hatch to the right. 

There is one other hidden extra but this i choose not to reveal, whoever buys the piece can have that one after 6 months of ownership if they do not find it before.

In the tradition of the Eastern European 'black' Madonnas i have done a Nokia hack up of my own. The hands free cherub is sculpted from polymer clay built onto a United Airlines headphone, the apple is the microphone.

The pregnant belly that houses the device is actually the skull top of the same baby doll head i used for the buddha.

Symbology: 

Roses- our Lady, the Madonna

The butterfly on the back- Resurrection 

The Scarab under the screen- Resurrection

She stands upon a Red egg, symbol of rebirth.

Revolutionary Toaster (there is a longer name but it escapes me)

A highly questionable compression of events leading up to the french revolution and results eventuating from it. Bear with me. 

On one side "Le the (te) de Boston" (The Boston Tea Party), a small column of smoke arises from Boston, the English taxes on America have roused ire, their imports of tea have been dumped into the harbour, riots ensue, France is inspired. On the other side "Un soulevement en Vendee" (An uprising in the Vendee), Catholics incensed at taxes and restrictions on the priesthood speakout, soldiers are sent to quell the rebellion and reports (though false) of massacres of innocents return to Paris, tensions are high. Prices go up and bread (the staple food of the poor) is made less affordable, riots ensue (surge of bakers and cooks scaling the crumbling columns of the old regime). Eventually Louis the XVI is deposed and beheaded (guillotine on one end and the head in the rubble with 'la boulanger' on the hat: Louis was refered to as 'The Baker' in his final days). eventually Napoleon comes to power and decides invading Russia would be a good career move (the figure on the blue end- don't look too closely they're British Napoleonic figures!).

Moral- give people fair taxes and food and they will probable not chop your head off.

Really no idea what these are about, they just seemed like a good idea at the time. Probable some sort of pataphysical comment. Please feel free to suggest something.

 

One of my 'soccer' series where the central dynamic is taken from frozen soccer player photos i cut from the newspaper. I find them very classical in structure and to a certain degree in content as well, they are after all the popular heroes of our age.

The process is very whimsical or intuitive, the structure is decided already, i just need to flavour it. There tend to be certain archetypes that make themselves present. 

This particular one is a goal shot, the goal keeper is the figure 5th from left with the top hat. After having sketched out the main figures and anatomy that i want i then start to piece the whole together into something resembling cohesion, it has to feel 'right'. I knew from the beginning that there was a table in the piece, next came the far left figure (protecting his genitals) he had rabbit (March Hare, the straw symbolises madness) written all over him, then the mousey guy 2nd from right appeared. Then the goal keeper as the Mad Hatter and i realised i had an Alice in Wonderland thing going on so the tea pot was drawn in. Death at some point pops up in some guise (2nd from left) and an Armoured or concealed character (3rd from left), also The Pilot (The Traveller, 4th from left). The rest i do not recognise. 

There is a certain urgency to the piece as i guess would be felt in the original scramble for the ball. I like the racing car zooming along the top, and there is one extra foot underneath the table.

My studio mate Kat came up with the title, quite appropriate considering half the figures have similar postures to the fresco of the same name.