Blog Archives
Blog Archives
Blog Archives
Blog Archives
Over the past two decades, Carl Gopalkrishnan's artwork has garnered international recognition for his ability to forge meaningful connections between art & literature and the complex dynamics driving international law, intervention and global conflict. Carl transforms familiar cultural artefacts into new myths so legal and military minds can explore the creative, subconscious and emotional stories that shape their doctrines of war & peace. (Photograph copyright © Amanda Brown 1992)
Open Letter: Red, White & Blue = Lavender. In 2024 we turn desperately to our young people to paint a better future.
Creation is not only for artists. Students who are discovering their voices to call for a ceasefire in Gaza are, collectively, creating a moment in history. Those opposing it will apply the same silencing, disparaging comments, and threats, as they have to artists who have challenged doctrine for millennia.
New Painting: ‘Gaza, Monsters of the Id. A painting in red, white and blue’ I turn this painting against the wall before I sleep, Jan 2024
Artists paint especially when there are no words left…
AUKUS Chronicles/Studio Notes: Painting the ‘Indo-Pacific’ through the 18th century lens of English poet William Blake
My painting re-imagines William Blake’s poem America A Prophecy (1793) exploring Australia in the Indo-Pacific. I followed a similar journey to Blake, exploring my own spiritual and mythic values, in the political theatre across decades. Blake’s character, Orc challenges our view of what’s right and wrong. ‘Australia A Prophecy’ asks if military leaders see themselves as Orc the Saviour or – like the Hindu God Shiva – Orc the Destroyer of Worlds.
Studio Notes: New Painting ‘Livni as the Sibyl of Cumae with dancing Follies’. 2009
A lot of the issues which have arisen since Obama's Egyptian speech reminded me of the prophetic silence of the 'Sibyl of Cumae' (Roman prophecies, Homeric stories, Virgil's Aeneid VI etc). It is exploring the role of prophecy in modern political life. Lately I have been thinking about "Tzipi" Livni's 'non-presence' in the evolving public discussion around the search for peace.