Original Sculpture by Richard Macdonald
Ōtautahi, Christchurch
Re-purposed Buzzy Bee Sculpture
Mixed Media paint
Dimensions 170×180×80mm
It has been said that the original designer toy/urban vinyl movement was itself born of customised G.I. Joes, arguably critiquing war toys and consumerism generally, while simultaneously using found object practice, and in doing so birthing a new direction in pop culture. ‘The Love Bug’ honours the notion that the mundane can be made meaningful and puts its own spin on designer toys; rather than becoming a low volume commodity, as designer toys have become in recent years, it is a resolutely proud one off with a mission, straddling the pacifist movement and pop culture.
I decided with this work to leave the form entirely original in order for the essence of its ‘Kiwiness’ to be plainly obvious and for its very nature as a young child’s toy to symbolise an uncomplicated innocence. In a departure from previous bees I’ve reworked, I’ve used artists oils rather than the usual enamels and/or acrylics, linking it back to my painting practice. This was in order to give it a softer, more organic appearance in line with its message. The 60s flower power aesthetic metamorphoses this Buzzy Bee into an envoy of peace, tolerance and reconciliation; wings depicting peace signs/pax cultura, the duality of existence evident in the yin and yang wheels, body emblazoned with multi lingual versions of ‘peace’, and olive branch offered. On a more subtle level, blazing gunfire becomes blooming flowers, and a hand giving the peace sign is where one would expect a bee’s angry sting. Our humble Buzzy Bee is now ‘The Love Bug’, the new dove of peace showing that small can be powerful.
Christchurch based Richard usually works in oils on either canvas or panel, and from purely representational work, he has begun to increasingly incorporate symbolism, with many pieces operating on multiple levels; harbouring a narrative, evoking memories, or even just having a bit of fun. A background working as an art school technician, and having studied decorative paint finishes and graphic design are all ingredients which have, in one way or another, found their way into his art. And he also, as some artists are inclined, likes to have a break from the easel now and then with some three dimensional works. In his case, an ongoing series of reimagining buzzy bees nibbling at the fringes of the designer toy movement. Examples of these have been selected as finalists in both the 2018 and 2020 Miles Art Awards at the Tauranga Art Gallery. Richard’s paintings have also found their way into homes in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Original Sculpture by Richard Macdonald
Ōtautahi, Christchurch
Re-purposed Buzzy Bee Sculpture
Mixed Media paint
Dimensions 170×180×80mm
It has been said that the original designer toy/urban vinyl movement was itself born of customised G.I. Joes, arguably critiquing war toys and consumerism generally, while simultaneously using found object practice, and in doing so birthing a new direction in pop culture. ‘The Love Bug’ honours the notion that the mundane can be made meaningful and puts its own spin on designer toys; rather than becoming a low volume commodity, as designer toys have become in recent years, it is a resolutely proud one off with a mission, straddling the pacifist movement and pop culture.
I decided with this work to leave the form entirely original in order for the essence of its ‘Kiwiness’ to be plainly obvious and for its very nature as a young child’s toy to symbolise an uncomplicated innocence. In a departure from previous bees I’ve reworked, I’ve used artists oils rather than the usual enamels and/or acrylics, linking it back to my painting practice. This was in order to give it a softer, more organic appearance in line with its message. The 60s flower power aesthetic metamorphoses this Buzzy Bee into an envoy of peace, tolerance and reconciliation; wings depicting peace signs/pax cultura, the duality of existence evident in the yin and yang wheels, body emblazoned with multi lingual versions of ‘peace’, and olive branch offered. On a more subtle level, blazing gunfire becomes blooming flowers, and a hand giving the peace sign is where one would expect a bee’s angry sting. Our humble Buzzy Bee is now ‘The Love Bug’, the new dove of peace showing that small can be powerful.
Christchurch based Richard usually works in oils on either canvas or panel, and from purely representational work, he has begun to increasingly incorporate symbolism, with many pieces operating on multiple levels; harbouring a narrative, evoking memories, or even just having a bit of fun. A background working as an art school technician, and having studied decorative paint finishes and graphic design are all ingredients which have, in one way or another, found their way into his art. And he also, as some artists are inclined, likes to have a break from the easel now and then with some three dimensional works. In his case, an ongoing series of reimagining buzzy bees nibbling at the fringes of the designer toy movement. Examples of these have been selected as finalists in both the 2018 and 2020 Miles Art Awards at the Tauranga Art Gallery. Richard’s paintings have also found their way into homes in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
