The Protector 1972

Desmond Morris made “The Protector” in the medium of paint and canvas. I’m interested in his playful biomorphic forms, like something out of a dream, and the painting process itself. There's a very particular kind of airbrushing here, a smooth, deliberate finish. I think of Magritte or Dali, but maybe more like Yves Tanguy, who was looser and more surreal. And a touch of Miro, with a cartoonish playfulness in the strange shapes. Look closely at that red form exhaling smoke, how its texture contrasts with the smooth, deep purples. It’s got a real glow. The whole thing gives me a feeling of an otherworldy stage. The hanging figure, like a puppet, seems to be waiting for something to happen. It reminds me that art isn’t just about a fixed thing, but about ongoing conversations and exchanges. It embraces ambiguity, letting us find our own way through.