Cause and Effect V 1973

Basil Beattie invites us to contemplate the perpetual dance of "Cause and Effect V" through symbolic representation. The dominant red bar, a potent symbol of restriction and imposed order, stretches across the canvas. This symbolic color carries weight, as does the color green. It transcends time, appearing throughout art history as a symbol of boundaries, restrictions, and even suppression, much like the gates of hell depicted in medieval art. Notice how these powerful shapes evoke emotional states – a barrier of red against an uncertain ground. This evokes intense feelings of tension and constraint, tapping into a deep-seated human experience of boundaries and limitations. In this way, the red motif, despite its many transformations, remains a potent symbol, evolving yet retaining its capacity to evoke strong emotional and psychological responses.