Title: Play Firebird!: portrait of Igor Stravinsky
Material: oil on canvas
Size: 36×24
Year: 2014
I have learned throughout my life as a composer chiefly through my mistakes and false assumptions, not by my exposure to founts of wisdom and knowledge. – Igor Stravinsky
Igor Stravinsky almost got lynched by audiences when his symphonic works were premiered, they were so odd. But original, and good, and now classic.
I have seen these shades of green-gold while meditating, and I sense these visuals have something to do with fertility and creative inspiration, so I use them here. Igor’s jacket bears the same pattern that appeared on actual
Rite of Spring dancers’ costumes. The dancers were his instruments too, along with the orchestra, a detail that is lost on many music lovers.
Stravinsky has taught me, a successful artist can turn fans’ anger into disappointment, which is always easier to shovel.