Child Abuse

Title: Child Abuse.
Material: Acrylic and Watercolour on Plaster.
Copyright B Purkayastha 2015


Back in 2012 I'd written a poem called Child Soldier:

I’m ten years old, sir

I’m all of ten years old

And all I know how to do, sir

Is what I’ve been told.

I have never read a book, sir

And on a blackboard all I’ve ever seen

Is the pattern of a minefield, sir

And the inside of an M16.

I do what I’m told, sir

I do what I’m told

And if you tell me to be bold sir

Why then I will be bold

If you tell me it’s right sir

It's fine to slash and kill, why then I would

Because if you tell me something sir

It’s an order received and understood.

I wonder if it’s right sir

To pity the children soft and weak

While I play with life and death, sir

They just play hide and seek.

Childhood, why that’s a dream, sir

That’s a dream over and done

And maybe I’ll have a rest, sir

When you tell me your war is won. 

IN this painting I used the green background to symbolise youth, and also to set it off against the green uniform of the child soldier. The black cloud around him is self-explanatory.

The problem with plaster is that it's difficult to scan (note the blurring on lower right) and a photo does not really show the texture. I'm coming round to the view that for complex paintings paper is a better medium, while for highly textured ones I will use plaster.

As always, painting is highly cathartic and the best way of releasing stress I have open to me at this time.