"The principal player, myself, represented the young artist fresh out of art school equipped to face the world but sadly not the reality of the world.
The white one piece boiler suit was worn by me through my college career as a student of drawing and painting at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee. During that time it became thick with oil paint and plaster of paris - the two heavily matted together. This suit represented my student uniform and the uniformity of students in general.
These tools were the embodiement of the academic teaching methods. Instruments of a craft which is rapidly loosing its relevance within society and its hold and influence over man's imagination. There is still a place for painting language as a medium for expression but only if it strives to communicate will it really be noticed. Painters must come to terms with the limitations of their medium within today's society.
The female nude figure painting in oils reprsented the main scholastic aspiration and achievement within the painting departemnt. A student was a failure unless he could produce a figure painting of some quality. Consequently an artist did not deserve his title unless he could execute the naked female form in oils on canvas.
The diploma - the magic piece of paper - the symbol which every student strives for. The symbol which will open doors but alas the only door it opens, with no assurance of future prospect, is the one into teachers training college. Fortunately in art circles it is the quality of one's work that counts. One's creative imagination and ability opens the door. Outside of art and in the daily rat race of the commercial world it is one's experience as a person which opens doors. One's confidence, manner, looks and approach to life are more regarded than the piece of paper.
The heroic male nude cast symbolically represented the art school structure and all that it aspires to.
The toy plastic hammer was the symbol od the artist's weakness.
The 7lb. sledge hammer - wrapped as a gift - given by the group to the artist symbolised power and strength.
Boo Hooray - the band - stood for contemporary language and it's power to communicate. The action, due to its live performance, takes the artist onto the same rostrum as the musician and consequently gives him power to communicate in todays terms..."Pete Horobin, 1981