Saul Shepherd
Mythologies
17 - 28 April 2024
G3
Opening Night
Friday 19 Apr | 6 - 8pm
◼︎
Ancient Greek mythology explores the workings and states of the human mind. As Freud knew only too well!
The mythologies of Icarus, Hercules, the Medusa, Venus, Circe, Castor and Pollux, Odysseus, Jason, The Sphinx, Oedipus, Europa, and others of the Greek pantheon are the inspiration for this exhibition.
Icarus (a poem)
Scrambled preachers
With their allies, a cabal of financiers,
Their bidding we did not follow,
To the letter.
Disappointed were they, then angry,
Imprisonment our punishment.
Too valuable an asset to destroy are we,
So, under their lock and key,
They have us.
Our feet bound to granite.
Through the hewn stone windows of our high tower
We stare out,
At the blue
Of the sky above,
And the ocean waves below.
And the sea birds that plunge and wheel between them.
Ureka! A plan for our escape,
From our prison
Atop the bull-man’s Complex-tomb.
We watch. We study. We are industrious.
We design our machines.
As Hephaestus modelled us from mud
With craftsman’s strong hands,
And Athena’s divine breath gave us life,
Wings to craft to make our escape?
So few ingredients…
Ah, but we are clever.
Wax from our candles,
Feathers dropped from above,
Cloth from tattered thin bedclothes,
Bleached bones from the bull-man’s adolescent victims are light and strong.
Soon, it is done!
Off the ramparts we take to the air.
The ocean winds hold us,
Above turbulent waters.
The guards loose arrows and hurl javelins.
Ha! Their barbs cannot reach.
The gulls laugh with us,
The feathered fletchings
Flutter down impotent.
The wind’s fingers
Tousles my hair.
A passionate lover is she.
Salt breath brushes my lips,
Blue reflects in eyes made wide.
We circle, we weave, we are free!
No longer slave
To religion, or
Commerce.
Apollo’s disc of
Burnished gold
Radiates and whispers,
There is more. Come closer, closer still,
Warm yourself against my divine heart.
Smell of honey intoxicates!
Wax is wet, it
Bubbles,
Drips,
Flows.
One two three and the rest,
Feathers fall away.
Crack!
Fall through the blue into the darker blue below.
Oblivion,
Her arms are welcome.
No fear I feel,
Better than prison this
Anyways.
Artist Bio
Saul Shepherd is a visual artist (sculptor, photographer and illustrator) and writer.
This is Saul’s first exhibition of his sculptural practice.
He has written a novel, a collection of short stories and poems, pending publishing.
Contact
Phone : (03) 9482 3550
mail@redgallery.com.au
Address
157 St Georges Rd
Fitzroy North, Victoria, 3068
Map
How to get here
Tram: route 11
Stop 21 just north of Edinburgh Gardens
Melway ref: 30B12
Parking in nearby streets
Bus: 504 (Reid Street)
