Ray Lowry. The Bluecoat 07th October 2009

Under the volcano, undated. Mixed media piece.

Unlike his series of paintings on paper based on Malcolm Lowry's book, Ray Lowry's single painting entitled under the volcano is more energetic, suggesting an exotic landscape. But despite the painting's title, it's subject matter is not Mexico but Iraq, and the time is the present, as toy soldiers play out a war in a part of the world that, as a Mesopotamia, was considered the 'cradle of civilization'. The subject matter reflects one of the books underlying themes that of man's folly with the world heading towards war.

I was amazed when i saw this painting for it's relevance to my core study work. My theme for my current work is the war in Iraq and so is the theme in this painting. What also made me love this painting more was the fact it had green and tan coloured toy soldiers along the bottom of the painting. I am using toy soldiers at the moment in my work. She has probably used the toy soldiers for the same reason i am using them, which is to make the image of war less daunting and therefore making the work more childlike.