La Siren - Artist's Statement
I walked into the Continental Club in Prahran many years ago. A woman named Kerri Simpson, came on stage and started to sing. As her voice rose the audience fell silent and the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. The petite woman on stage had a most unusual and powerful voice that seemed to well up from somewhere ancient and primeval. At one stage she sang in a growl that was so low it must have been on the edge of human hearing. The growl rose higher and became a magnificent, passionate singing voice. Higher and higher still her voice rose until I felt transposed to another time listening to the soul chilling shrill of the Banshee. Wow, I had come to listen to some good local music and ended up having an epiphany!!!! Thus began my continuing admiration for, in my opinion, the best performer I have ever listened to.
Kerri's voice captivated me, but so did her appearance. Kerri had a beautifully unique and interesting face. I became more and more interested in painting her portrait and 16 years after my epiphany, I asked if she would sit for me for the Archibald. During our first meetings I would ask Kerri about her life and interests and music so that I could get an understanding of her as a whole person, not just the performer. Kerri talked about her Vodoun beliefs and trips overseas. The more that I heard the more fascinated I became.
"In the 1990's Melbourne singer songwriter Kerri Simpson travelled to Haiti to make field recordings of Vodoun rituals in Port au Prince. Whist there renowned Vodou priest and artist Edgar Jean Louis proclaimed that she was indeed blessed with the spirit of La Siren . "The siren" is the Vodoun lwa or patron and inspiration of singers and musicians She is portrayed symbolically as a mermaid, together with La Balein, the whale who represents the protective depths of the sea. The siren's song does not lure with pretence or lust for fame, it is a song that calls one to the Spirit."
Now I understood what had happened to me all those years ago, I did indeed hear the Siren's song calling me to Spirit.
At our first meeting Kerri brought some books and a pack of Vodoun Taro cards. She showed me La Siren. Over the next months during my 'practice painting' for the Archibald the La Siren image stayed with me and eventually I decided to make an life-sized Taro card. Kerri would be La Siren on the front and the verve for La Siren would be on the reverse side. All beautifully edged with silver leaf! Why simply paint a portrait when I can make a double-sided life-sized Taro card that I could guild with silver leaf when it was 40°C in January!!! Life really wasn’t meant to be easy!
I have attempted to capture the alluring, powerful qualities of La Siren and combine them with the strength and immense talent of Kerri. I hope you enjoy this work.