Art Before Audience: Neolithic Rituals and Hidden Meaning
For the purposes of this article, I would like to ‘take you back’ about 4000 years BC. Peep re-discover a time when ice covered most of the Northern Hemisphere and paintings, carvings and sculptures served as a deeper communal spirit.
Why Cave Paintings Were Never Meant to Be Seen
Picture the scene, a Neolithic man crawling through miles of blackened cave, armed with only a stick or some kind of pigment for painting. I would like to point out at this stage, that the Neolithinc people were not defined as ‘cavemen’ – that term, was reserved for the Palaeolithic hunter gatherer and the Neanderthals before them. The term ‘Caveman’ is a wild ‘broad brush’ term which is an inaccurate phrase that described early humans on earth.
In primary school, always remember browsing through a library book and seeing a beautiful illustration of four or five ‘caveman’ with spears chasing down a dinosaur. Sometimes I still have a laugh about their long black hair bellowing behind them, their faces gripped with excitement and trepidation. . Unfortunately, the book is now lost forever, as the school was burned to ground by a disgruntled pupil. In hindsight, I should have taken it, like I did with so many other completely unrealistic and wildly inaccurate books of that time.
Hidden Agendas For a Skilled Neolithic Ritual Artist
Ok, back to the cave paintings. Neolithic man, the skilled farmers, hunter gathers and absolutely brilliantly skilled artists ! The fact that many paintings were placed deep in caves, far from regular human activity strengthens the idea they were meant for selective rituals, spiritual journeys, or for communicating with the spirit world. These early cave paintings could also be described as first generation cave affirmations.
Why The Artworks Stays Hidden
These purposeful statements focused on wild oxen, horses or a deers etc. My point is, remember the guy crawling through the cave? Well, the general consensus was, he absolutely did not want, or expect, anyone to see the paintings or descriptions. In fact, Neolithic man went to great lengths for the descriptions and wall affirmations NOT to be seen, by anyone at any time ! This was because the Neolithic people did not concern themselves with marketing or the idea of marketing, the ’build it and they will come’ marketing strategy did not even exist.
An Art Exhibition in Newcastle Build It And They May Come, but Who Cares Really.
In todays world, we have become familiar with positive affirmations – affirmations, to counter negative thoughts or to wish something to manifest to us down the line. Most people dream of wealth or a better job, but I firmly believe Neolithic man dreamt of food and staying healthy to protect themselves, their families and wider communities and hopefully to hunt another day.
This placement implies that these artworks, were not about visual communication to large groups, but Instead served as functional and more personal and private to those who undertook the ritualistic passage into the caves. Affirmations are positive, purposeful statements that people repeat to themselves to foster helpful beliefs, counter negative thoughts, and improve confidence and emotional wellbeing
A Newcastle Art Exhibition Rooted In Progression and NOT Promotion.
Ok, fast forward to the 21st century, would it be out of the realms of possibility that this manifestation ritual or process actually still exists today? This brings me now onto an exhibition I was asked to participate with. The 16 Years Of Unseen Work ( A Very Late show ) Exhibition was conceptualised by an old friend called John Wood. ( pictured in the middle ) The idea seemed loosely connected to Newcastle’s Late Shows John, is not a stranger to the peep platform, in fact, he has been documented a few times – some good, some bad and some downright ugly ! You decide. He kind of agrees to be on the platform, but then sobers up and decides it was a really bad idea and wants the interview to be taken down…
This extended period of creative isolation meant the work could evolve authentically across multiple mediums. Paintings informed ceramic forms, musical compositions shaped visual rhythms, and each discipline fed into the others without external interruption. 16 Years Of Unseen work is the result of a cohesive artistic language of paintings, that has no narrative, but emerged through sustained, unobserved practice. Now, with 16 years of perspective, the artist felt the work had finally reached a point of completion – or at least a natural pause – making this the right moment to share it with the peep magazine’s Newcastle audiences.
Full Walkthrough and Ride-through of 16 Years Of Neolithic Rituals Artwork
Below, is a complete walkthrough and sometimes interview with the artist Jon Wood. Jon, rides his bike and comments on work in progress and comments on influences and ideologies of his expressive artwork. subscribe to the channel and help peep support the under-represented in the North East of England.
