Surprise Visit. pop art painting
A woman falls headfirst with her handbag still clutched in her hand, perhaps because it is “Designer”.
Her hair and bag strap trail in mid-air, capturing a split second before impact with the ground, where X literally marks the spot.
The falling woman, or Ms Ic (Ms Icarus), is a character that appears in different forms in Doug’s work.
Startled by the scene
Two well-dressed men in differing suits, but each with Doug’s signature overlaid grid patterns, are startled by the scene. One reacts so violently that it sends his ice cream flying.
The chequered pattern of the woman’s dress recalls a racing winner’s flag, although the outcome of her fall will be anything but a victory.
*Artist Doug Kemp with surprise visit (small town drama collection) Painting
A paparazzo with an old-style camera
A vivid abstract backdrop casts the figures and action forward in sharp contrast.
A paparazzo with an old-style camera appears ready to capture the scene from within a circular framing device that suggests a reverse view through a lens.
Doug turns slapstick into theatre, freezing absurdity and danger within the choreography of small-town life.
All these features add tension, narrative intrigue and surrealism.
