This painting of Godard’s Spyker during the 1907 Peking to Paris race is the most recent work of Dutch artist Araun Gordijn (click picture for larger image). Many beautiful locations could have been selected to serve as a setting for the Spyker, but the Gobi-desert seemed a universal place to do so. Painter Araun Gordijn was attracted to the timelessness of the ambience. He tried to imagine what a painter, living in 1907, would have done. Without doubt using more accuracy, more an eye for the drivers and for details like tyres, cutlery and spare parts. The car would have fronted the viewer, the Spyker Logo prominently visible. Today his vision on the race is clearly different than the one from 100 years ago; the event no longer newsworthy; the desert a fantasy world. The size of the painting -100x200cm- is quite extreme, but helps to experience the endless feeling of space. The automobile is pictured from behind, driving away from you, travelling into time. The few parts, like the fuel can and luggage are used symbolically, meaning to suggest at least some human activity.

February 17, 2008