Ballet d'autruche (The Ostrich Ballet) is a sinister melange of cabaret acts, with a menagerie of performers. The paintings reference the Crazy Horse Cabaret; Moulin Rouge; Cabaret (1972 Film) and Mikhail Bulgakov's classic novel "The Master and Margarita".
Ballet d'autruche (Act l) ©
Oil and oil pastels on fine paper
38 cm high x 38 cm wide
Act l - The ostriches who have forever had their stolen feathers ruffled on the human stage, at last claim the limelight for themselves.
Anthropomorphising them unashamedly, they are natural performers, with dancer's legs, long necks, big eylashes and attitude.
In the audience is a benign zebra, never a predator, unlike the dark agent in the wings.
Ballet d'autruche (Act ll) ©
Oil and oil pastels on fine paper
90 cm high x 60 cm wide approx.
Act ll - The jazzy Piano Cat is inspired by Behemoth, the mischievous devil cat in Bulgakov's novel. The monocled figure in the ill-fitting chequer suit, with pork pie hat, is the Beast .
The formidable ostrich in fishnets has a walk on part, but steals the show from the devil himself.
