One painting, entitled “The Deterioration Of Mind Over Matter” is a frightening picture of a decomposing human scull firmly ensconced on some devilish birdcage in which the raw gore of mans physical being lies lifeless at the base. The parting flesh of the scull is secured by a trompe-l'oel safety pin. This is truly an image that could have been utilized in the former issues of “Tales From The Crypt”, in fact it brings to mind in its own scary way the imaginations of Edgar Allan Poe. The poem, “The Conqueror Worm” comes to mind immediately:
But see, amid the mimic rout
A crawling shape intrude!
A blood-red thing that writhes from out
The scenic solitude!
It writhes! - it writhes! - with mortal pangs
The mimes become its food,
And the angels sob at vermin fangs
In human gore imbued.
Excerpt from the critique by
J. Brooks Joyner
Editor Visual Arts,
The Albertan, Saturday, May 29th, 1976
acrylic on canvas, 20"x28", 1973
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Read the review by J. Brooks Joyner:
Tales from the Crypt |
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List 25 article:
25 Disturbing Art Pieces That Challenges People’s Sanity |
This painting is all over the internet, and I find references to it on many occasions - even just when googling my name only, it seems to be a piece that is most associated with my name. To list all that can be found is futile, but just a couple of examples, found here on Reddit (posted March 28, 2015) and 10 Violent Paintings That Only Lovers Of Horror Will Admire (September 27, 2016)
YT opens new window, start at 2:49
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My painting made it even into a another list, this time
7 Most Famous And Creepiest Looking Oil Paintings listed among some world-famous artwork (see the complete description for each on YouTube):
1. Untitled Painting - Zdzisław Beksiński 2. "The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed in Sun" - William Blake 3. "Dante and Virgil in Hell" - William-Adolphe Bouguereau 4. "The Garden of Earthly Delights" - Hieronymus Bosch 5. "Saturn Devouring His Son" - Francisco Goya 6. "Deterioration of Mind Over Matter" - Otto Rapp This painting features a gruesome head-looking cage that has open flesh on focus and a very creepy background. The underground dungeon look, people staring on the head, on the setting and the whole decomposing skull appearance adds to the horror factor of the painting. The artwork was made by Austrian artist Otto Rapp in 1973. There is no direct description about the painting but it probably tells us the destruction of "mind over matter" or an individual's control on material things. 7. "Triptych of Earthly Vanity and Divine Salvation" - Hans Memling |
How about as a cover for a Heavy Metal Album:
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