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John
Mitchell's
Home Not Alone
Review by Diana Schmertz
In the image “Home Not Alone” John
Mitchell shows us a werewolf endearingly grooming himself. Through
this simple depiction of the werewolf’s innocent act Mitchell
reveals a profound connection and interdependence between beings
and some of the consequences of symbiotic relationships. Mitchell
evokes empathy for the werewolf who is trying to remove a source
of uncomfort and disease. Looking at the enlarged section of the
werewolf’s’ area of irritation you see the “alien
invader” who appears to be simply trying to dig himself
a home. The questioning of one’s perspective lingers throughout
much of Mitchell’s work. By showing both creatures perspectives
Mitchell makes you sympathize with both of them equally. Either
way you look at it each creature wants to live and is merely trying
to survive. To the werewolf the mite, aka “alien invader”,
is feeding off of the werewolf’s body making him uncomfortable
and possibly unhealthy. The invader is a threat to his life. The
mite is reliant on the werewolf for a home, while its home, the
werewolf, is the biggest threat to his life, (as seen in “Aztec”).
There is a conflict presented when you sympathize with them both.
And if one creature feels compassion for the other it will interfere
with its’ own survival. They will intrinsically hurt each
other if they are going to survive. In art and society we tend
to perceive things as good versus evil. By creating work that
demonstrates the perspective of each creature and their symbiotic
relationships Mitchell breaks the myth of good and evil making
you feel compassion for all. Each being is simply being who it
was born to be. |
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