9. Martin
Or: the 12-cylinder tricyclen
Picture information:
127cm x 92cm, oil on canvas
The story:
Every small boy dreams of sport scars and the intoxication of speed. The fascination of
these dreams becomes clear when we accompany them to the fairground and they see rides
like roller coasters, dodgems and go-karts. Then their eyes light up, their faces flush
and their voices become shrill with excitement. Enthusiasm, pure and simple. This same
enthusiasm still seizes men very much older. When a new James Bond film opens, a particularly
good-looking car goes by or the new Michael Schumacher Ferrari is introduced on TV, there
eyes begin to light up. These men haven't forgotten the dreams of their youth.
My painting on this theme is entitled "Martin" in reference to the back tires
of the Aston Martin DB9 which contrast with the full rubber tires on the front wheels.
However, the whole vehicle is just a metal scooter with pedals, a hard metal seat and
rubber handgrips complete with red plastic tassels. To me Martin is both a shortening
of Aston Martin and a name from my youth. I have an uncle called Martin. He had a passion
for Ford cars and always drove one of their models (Scorpio etc.)
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To add a sportive touch, he always wore perforated gloves when he drove. At the time,
this fascinated me. I couldn't see how the racing gloves fitted with my uncle's dull
ochre-colored Ford. It was one of those paradoxes that we come across from time to
time and ask ourselves where on earth such a thing came from. I think it stemmed from
a childhood bereft of car mechanics. In English, such people are called "wannabes"
(a shortening of want to be) and if we look carefully, we will see that the world is
full of them. Martin is just one. My painting is an appealing and unforgettable
presentation of the fantasies and realities of this fascinating and constantly
present male dream.
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