by E.S. Jones
Born in the Highlands of Scotland, Mackie recalls drawing from an early age. By obsessively drawing and re-drawing pictures he was trying to achieve perfect scale and an efficient way of devising images. Through this compulsive process and an education in illustration and design, he developed a practice which gives classical Flemish painting techniques a satirical edge, creating imaginative parodies.
Nothing Compares To You (Slytherin’s X-Factor) brings a strange little group of recognisable characters together. As a comment on what is real, we have two actors in their Harry Potter aliases, and three presenters who are known for their pantomime roles in our Saturday night TV shows. Louis Walsh is delighted by Voldemort’s rendition of the Sinead O’Connor power ballad, whilst Severus Snape grimaces, suitably unimpressed. Sharon Osbourne’s face (as usual) gives us nothing but pan-faced botox. He (Who Must Not Be Named) now desires fame, for everyone to know his name.
A lot of questions remain unanswered: Is Voldemort draining Louis Walsh’s Irish soul even as he is laughed off stage? Is the coldly lit scene a limbo where all must be voted into the afterlife by The Panel? Roy Walker asks us to guess the ultimate catchphrase – but what could it be? Silence is Golden? Judge not, that ye be not Judged? This awkward scenario depicts an obsession with celebrity, and the ‘reality’ shows where ‘some scenes have been created for your entertainment’. Maybe it is simply a depiction of how things are. We are left at a loss for what it all means and only one thing is for sure – that Truth is Stranger than Fiction. And your guess is as good as mine. As Roy Walker would say; ‘It’s good, but it’s not the right answer.’
Happenings at Hay Hill Gallery 