Jonathan Darby

Jonathan Darby

 Jonathan Darby is a UK based artist, in his work he portrays the effects socio-political and humanitarian issues has on children presently. He focuses on children alone, because he sees them as being the future, he believes the experiences they confront now will have repercussions on the future, as well as their life.

Jonathan Darby has shown that he really does care for the children of the world, children which are dealing with conflict, poverty and corruption, this has been shown by Darby working with children’s charities and is now increasingly furthering this course of action. 

Jonathan Darby in a few of his pieces of work has the child gazing in a different direction, compared to having the child gazing at the audience. He most commonly has the child gaze at the audience, because it makes them feel more emotional when observing the work. Personally, the work made me want to help put an end to these terrible experiences children, present are experiencing.  Jonathan in one piece called the “Mendigos, 2011”, had more than one child in his piece of work, this is unusual as it’s usually only one child to create the feeling of loneliness and neglect. I believe he used more than one child to show the audience that it’s not just happening to a selected few, but to loads of children. 

 

This piece on the left is called “Paolino, 2011”. I’m assuming Paolino is the name of the child portrayed in the work. Jonathan Darby supports a lot of children charities, so I believe this is a child he has meet on his journey while helping the charities, which is he is so passionate about. Why has Darby positioned the boy behind the door? I believe Darby is trying to make the audience feel that the child is trapped, the sense of the boy being trapped is also suggested by the key hole. The door appears to have metal bars behind or a part of it, this has connotations of prison, security and strength. I alternatively believe the boy is not trapped due to the child holding tightly onto the door like it’s a guardian or beloved home. He doesn’t want to leave. Darby is trying to portray that the door is keeping the bad out away from the boy.