The Fabric of Society is Fraying
2023
Acrylic on canvas
40cm x 40cm
Painting origin: friendly chess game
Date: 12/10/2017
Players: A Sahrawi Seamstress vs Bryan Gerard Duffy
Opening: Giuoco Piano main line
Result: 0 - 1 Bryan wins
Observation:
A very slow congested, inactive opening. The Seamstress made a tactical error as they were entering the end game.
This series of paintings with patternings were inspired by a “Jaima”, the traditional tent of the nomadic Sahrawi people. These paintings are developed upon the recorded moves made in the games of chess played with the locals of Western Sahara. The Sahrawi’s speak of being used as pawns in the West’s sinister game of chess. Chess is a metaphor for war and is used as a starting point and pattern for each of my paintings.