The Corrida

Have you been to a bullfight? For some, this is a place of tradition, life, death, valour and tragedy. For others, it is a place of shame where the human race indulges in a spectacle of cruelty. Whatever your view, it is dramatic, colourful and yes . . . artistic. The arts portray many things and in the toreo you will find much of it, even beauty, but especially passion and showmanship. It is a visual art, a performing art, the art of communication, drama, psychology and yes, the physical art of sport.

There is also a great deal of literature on the subject because, if nothing else, it is steeped in (and part of) culture: It communicates society's experiences in a symbolic way with dress, language, rituals, heritage and so on.

But of course it is much deeper than this. I am not an aficionada so I could not begin to explain the whys and wherefores of the whole toreo spectacle but I can feel the atmosphere.

Strangely I find myself neither in favour, nor against the bull ring. I can see and try to understand both aspects/views. But as an artist it is a spectacle not to be ignored and a place where art lives. If art is a product of human activity, made with the intention of stimulating the senses and the human mind by transmitting emotions and/or ideas, it is certainly that. And I would recommend anyone with an interest in Spain to see a corrida at least once in their lives.

I have painted some scenes around the bullring and some of the people actually involved in bullfighting in Spain.