Paddy Hartley

Feeling utterly helpless in the light of his actions and the threat he poses, theres more than a considerable element of catharsis in the making of my voodoo totems and what I wish for him.

Depicting how I feel he perceives himself and what Im sure he feels is his divine mission to (at the very least) reinstate the old Soviet Union.

Depicting how I perceive him, from Hell. He is the single most dangerous and imminent threat to his own people, to Ukraine, to humanity, ever.

Paddy Hartley 2023

The Putin Death Skull banner adorning the Pauls Stradiņš Museum of Medical History, Riga Latvia, became a major catalyst for Paddy’s most recent body of work ‘Hex on Thou Zee’ or ‘A Curse on your War’.

The banner, which faces directly across the street from the Russian Embassy building in Riga, is emblematic of the attitude of bravery, boldness, dark humour and resilience of Ukrainians, Latvians and the surrounding Baltic nations.

‘On seeing the banner on my first trip to Riga in April 2022 shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the image was and still is breathtaking in its boldness of scale, intent and location. A colossal ‘Fuck You’ directed at its subject. As I and so many of others felt (and continue to feel) a fear and uncertainly following the initial invasion and subsequent war, it was a hugely inspirational image to see. Sometimes the only agency you have in the light of such events is to make something to illustrate how you feel about the aggressors and to show support for those directly impacted by brutal, merciless and utterly senseless aggression.

‘My voodoo totems are a riposte to the unambiguous warmongering of the primary protagonists in Russian political leadership and associated characters instigating the invasion of Ukraine. The works are intended as symbols of the toxic masculinity displayed by the aggressors, finally able to fabricate an excuse play with their ‘big boys toys’ and as though on a ‘divine mission’ to turn back to clock to the days of the Cold War with a blatant disregard for life, sovereignty and economic and global stability at the cost of both Ukrainian and Russian lives. The resilience and sense of humour displayed by Ukrainians and bordering nations under threat have had a profound influence on the work’

This body of work comprises of a number of series, all of which feature caricatures inspired by the Russian political leadership and associated aggressors.

‘Tool, of the Devil’ works are created as cloven-hoofed voodoo totems featuring phallic, demonic and satanic symbolism. Soviet era colour aesthetics are employed and casts from Soviet era military model aircraft components and insignia. A number of the works feature nails embedded and fired into the work and other penetrative elements echoing authentic voodoo totems.