Aerial Design

I remember listening to Simon & Garfunkels greatest hits as a child. That and an unhealthy amount of Al Stewart… And well, I’m thankful for the first, but not so much the latter (sorry mum). After spending my teenage years listening exclusively to pop, pop-rock & pop-punk, I finally come back around to appreciate their song-crafting genius!

For the last 4 months or so I have had this idea to create a portrait inspired by The Boxer. I wanted to go super vintage on it, right back to the Victorian age. It’s hard to represent a Victorian as a rebel, so much of what was taboo back then is common place today! I think that’s what makes this piece a lot more subtle. I had to do a fair bit of research and ended up on the topic of tattoos. Apparently getting inked back then was total social suicide, you ran the risk of complete family banishment. I picked a classic Sailor Jerry tattoo to place on his chest. Sailor Jerry tattoos started out as a real sign of masculinity and testosterone. They spoke of battle, honour, victory which seemed fitting for anyone in the boxing profession.

I framed him with some classic oval heraldry, inscribed with what i think are the most poignant lyrics in the song. Up top I inscribed a tally representing his battles and fights, “And he carries the reminders of every glove that laid him down or cut him”.

Might get some prints made eventually. For now it remains as a momento of my recent dip into a world of music I ignored for too long.