“I dreamed I saw St Augustine”
A whimsical and narrative interpretation of the 1967 Bob Dylan Ballad. The lyrics describe a dream that is enigmatic and subject to interpretation. One interpretation of the song is that St. Augustine is a stand-in for Dylan himself, who had been viewed as a prophet or messiah. The St. Augustine in the title has often been linked to St Augustine of Hippo - a philosopher who wrote about evil and guilt, he defined the concept of original sin. For me, the St Augustine narrative is a metaphor for life. The meaning in each image changes with the density of the lines and the combination of colours. Colour has vitality… like life. The works are mixed media drawings on paper and acrylic on canvas
“…Arise, arise, he cried so loud
In a voice without restraint
Come out, ye gifted kings and queens
And hear my sad complaint
No martyr is among ye now
Whom you can call your own
So go on your way accordingly
But know you're not alone.”
- Bob Dylan 1967.