Own face hidden by mask becomes a shield. Shield, my defence,
face by mask concealed.
Do you comprehend the language of the shield?
See through mask, see true self is revealed? ….
My mask, illusion transparent, printed at best on vapour.
My visual language, is it lucid, or appearance just a foolish caper.
My face vulnerability hidden by illusion well rehearsed.
Shield warns retribution will be rapid, retaliating first.
I do it, you do it, we all do it, we all utilise mask concealment.
Worldly display of what we’re not, a visual dishonest-ment.
Impasto we paint a colourful stronger, wiser handsome self-portrait.
Protection from onslaught, what we silently in fear all contemplate.
Do you comprehend the language of the shield?
See through mask, see true self … revealed?
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‘Born 1947, graduated from Sutton School of Art in the 1960’s and 2009 Camberwell (MA Printmaking). Robert is a painter, illustrator, print-maker, film-maker and experimental performance poet. He is a politically social issue led artist. Having worked within advertising for over 35 years has allowed him to utilise the tools and graphic skills that are exploited in that industry in order to communicate with his audience. He unashamedly uses cartoon, text, and visualisation techniques common in advertising to hopefully make his art non-elitist, democratic and acceptable to the uninitiated.’