UBIQUITOUS PUBLIC HOUSE

 

PUBLIC HOUSES (PUBs) AS THE LAST BASTION FOR HONEST DEBATE!

Late October early November of 2023 I was doing guest lectures in Sweden at both Lund University and LSU Malmø. My accommodation was in a 1980's building on an site know as Trianglen and although not technically part of the historical district it is near both the historical centre and the arts district which became quite handy. Especially when back from work. It is always great to go out for a wonder in a place I never been before in my life, become yet again a flâneur. I begin walking along Södra Förstadsgatan and after a few blocs I see a pub named Bullen - Två Krögare on Storgatan Street. Next thing, I was enjoying a meat balls and mashed potato dish with a beautiful pint. All I could see from my table was this other large communal table with a bunch of perfect strangers. The back of some seemed so similar to the back of the chairs that I decided to draw them. The pub was an old building decorated in a Victorian style and that included an intricate wallpaper with a flowery pattern. After downing my beer I could not make much sense of the pattern nor the heavy decoration and macabre lighting which seemed more like candlelight to me. 

Next thing, I was drawing 'camouflage' patterns as the wallpaper. This drawing/painting took me a long time to complete. In a way I think is over worked buy also think I got there at the end. The drawing began with a study sketch in my travel book with initial lines while still in Sweden. Back in Melbourne I continued with the detailing and event took it on a trip to Singapore. This painting was seating on my bead and I kept steering at it. I eventually was happy with it, especially after the masking the door, it initially was day-blue and now is night-blue if that actually exists.

Ubiquitous Public House (PUB) alludes to the idea that when I when I was painting this piece many other pubs around the earth were having the same vibe, similar people and very much the same discussions. Even a PUB which seems to be quite unique such as the Bullen, might be more standard that you think. The three men seating on three chairs are clones, just in the same way the chairs as mass-reproduced.

Another ubiquitous aspect of public houses and eateries ("fondas" in Mexico) it the nature of "sobremesa" talks. Sobremesa is the talk carried out across the table, usually before or after dinner, platica de sobremesa.

  

I love this original, one-off paining, perhaps there are many others PUBs just the same, that the same time in various other global locations! Not!

Guillermo Aranda-MenaⒸ2024