City Lies Acrylic Painting On Paper
A woman dominates the composition, staring directly towards the viewer with an expression that is both confrontational and uncompromising. Her flowing red hair sweeps across the image, reinforcing the sense of movement and emotional intensity.
Behind her, a bright yellow circular form acts almost like a spotlight, separating her from the darker geometric shapes that surround her. The bold colours and simplified forms draw heavily upon the visual language of comic books, advertising posters and popular culture.
The title occupies the upper section of the work in large graphic lettering. Its aggressive tone immediately captures attention, yet the absence of any actual dogs within the composition suggests that the phrase is symbolic rather than literal.
The woman’s expression is central to the painting’s impact. She appears determined, angry or perhaps simply unwilling to remain silent. Doug leaves the exact nature of her grievance unresolved, allowing the viewer to imagine the events that may have led to this moment.
Originally created in 1979 and revisited by Doug in 2020, the work bridges two very different periods of the artist’s career. The later reworking preserves the energy of the original image while introducing the stronger colours and graphic confidence associated with many of Doug’s later works.
Viewed within the Divorce Series, *Kill The Dogs* can be interpreted as a portrait of anger, frustration and emotional confrontation. Unlike many of the other works in the series, there is little ambiguity here. The figure projects strength rather than uncertainty and appears entirely capable of expressing exactly what is on her mind.
Doug offers no explanation for the title and no clear resolution to the story. Instead, the painting captures a single emotional moment, frozen in time and presented with all the force of a poster, headline or warning.
**Kill The Dogs** – Acrylic painting on paper, originally created in 1979 and reworked in 2020. Released as a limited edition of ten 14 x 10 inch giclée prints by Doug Kemp.
