Boys and Their Toys 2011

Oil by Victor Gordon
Oil on canvas
75 x 50.5 cm

A Toy Till to learn about the economy, a riding crop standing in for a weapon and importantly a bespoke uniform transforms this boy into a model advertisement for the jingoistic ideals that Australia espoused when she embarked on man-a-faraway war. This lad has an impish look on his penetrating stare and has a contraband cigarette hanging from his lips. Not much has changed except our PC society wouldn’t now permit the exploitation of children in this manner. But we still go to war in faraway places…