Down the Rabbit Hole We Go by Karen Chappelow

Artist Statement

“This piece symbolises how easily one can be trapped in hegemonic assumptions about success and beauty. A spiral of self-obsession and self-doubt. The Yellow brick road is a well-worn trope for the spiritual and emotional journey that we take to fulfil our dreams. Along the way we can lose sight of what it is that is important.

Our heroine is swinging freely, carried along by swallows, a symbol of freedom itself. The goldfish references the Babel Fish in the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. The players being sucked into the vortex and down the spiral have lost their way and are side-tracked by materialistic trinkets.

The Young girl is offering a pound coin, her pound of flesh. She must give a piece of herself, soul, and body in order to succeed. Arlecchino/Harlequin, a member of Commedia dell’arte, plays the fool. Àrlecchino represents the foolish decisions we make in life. The dancers evoke pride and narcissism, which never leads to happiness, just a shallow existence.

In our contemporary world this manifests in being a slave to social media. His thumbs up gesture a reflection on what he bases his worth on…the likes on his social media whilst he takes a selfie.”

About the Artist

“I like it when I get a physical reaction from people when they view my art.  The whimsy, fun and sometimes political nature of life is evident in my work.  By expressing the fierceness of a female, the ridiculous in a scenario, becomes a message turned into humour softening the blow, breaking down barriers.  The expressionist nature of my work tries to blur the edges of reality and hopefully makes people smile, wonder, think and create conversation.”

Karen Chappelow has been sculpting and painting for more than 20 years, she has a drive for bucking the system and invites the viewer to view life through a different lens. Karen has collectors both Nationally and Internationally.

In recent times Karen has been extensively exhibiting in New York, Madrid, Luxembourg, Berlin, Rome and Malmo-Sweden. Also exhibiting in group shows in Perth and Melbourne. Karen’s work has appeared on the “The Block” a TV renovation show on Channel 9.

Karen will also be appearing in Home Design Magazine August 2023 edition.

Follow Instagram and Facebook @karenchappelow_artist for new work.