|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
Playground
|
|
|
|
|
This
1976 mural-sized
painting,
entitled "The
Playground"
by Mulleian, depicting
the conflict
between
Cratos, (god of strength,
sent by Zeus,
supreme god of
justice and reason),
and the
dynasty of the
Titans of
today, a visual
metaphor for
the people's struggle
against consuming
domination
and exploitation
by the ruling
elite. The
veiled painting
towered like
a monolith
under a January
sky of San Francisco's
North Beach Barbary
Coast as
hundreds of
spectators jammed
packed the
Mabuhay Gardens
on Broadway in celebration
of the completion and unveiling
of this epic
work. This
event drew people
from all over the
world,
including international
celebrities
and notables such as rock star
Elton John.
After the audience waited for three
hours in anticipation
of the unveiling,
ten minutes
of total silence
fell over the crowd as
the latest
work by
Mulleian was revealed.
The news of
this gala
premier would
span the
distance
between
New York and the
Phillipines
and is still
remembered
by many to this
day. Mulleian
was twenty six years
old. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
The
Playground
Oil, 60" x96" 1976 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
driving energy
of opposing
forces, seen here
as reshaping and
moving across darkening
skys, sets
a powerful example
of Mulleian's
combustive
narrative composition in
juxtaposing symbolic
and abstract
elements,
creating a dynamic,
thought
provoking subject
that stimulates
viewer's involvement. |
|
|
|
|
|
Kratos
struggles
with painted lines
leaping off
the asphalt
of a schoolyard
playground,
(symbolic
of confinement and
rigidity by institutions
at the expense
of human
potential).
As Kratos resists
mind control,
(symbolized
by a yellow
line rapped around
his head), a hypnotic
white line
rises and seizes
the moment
by sedating
Kratos, with
persuasive powers,
into submission
to questionable
ways of thinking
by indoctrination,
leading
to its swift
final attack delivered
by a leaping venomous
red line, (symbolic of war and division).
Suddenly
there emerges
a blinding light that
rains down
from above, summoning
Kratos to a place
of retreat by Zeus
through the opening
hatch of an ancient
ship, (symbolic
of mans unconscious
struggle
with his
own common sense in
the quest of self knowledge).
But as many
of his paintings
reveal, there is a message
which seems to convey
a prophetic
insight and anchors
providential hope
as though it is already
predestined, that
goodness will
prevail. |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|