Thursday 12 October 2017

Just do it


This is a portrait of a friend's son which H.I. painted some years ago. It now hangs on the wall of a house, high in the mountains of Spain.

It was the fashion for young people to wear the slogan of the sports clothing manufacturer, Nike, as free advertising for them which the wearer has paid for. Theo even wore it as a band around his neck. It says, 'JUST DO IT'.

It seems like a life-affirming piece of encouragement - something to spur you on to greater things, to enter that race, to aspire to win it - to just get on with living your life.

Well it turns out that these were the last words of a convicted criminal to his executioners when asked if there was anything he wanted to say before they killed him.

24 comments:

  1. Words to live by! It reminds of Bentley's famous words 'Let him have it'. Things can be misinterpreted; but probably not in Bentley's case.

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    1. I think Bentley was innocent by virtue of innocence, but maybe you think otherwise.

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  2. Someone said ‘ Beam me up ‘ but I don’t remember who !!! Gives me the heebie jeebies !!! ( not the painting though .... that’s good ) XXXX

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    1. Yes, it was a petty criminal handed out a rather severe sentence in court.

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  3. Wonderful painting. It has all the iconography to be a modern day Van Eyck.

    Just do it is Nike, so the kid has TWO sporting goods manufacturer references . Gary Gilmore said it right before he was shot by firing squad in -- where else? -- America in 1977. I remember that case. The 1970s were a deeply weird time.

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    1. Yes, thank you. I have corrected the brand now.

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  4. I told my grandchildren I would not pay for clothing that contained advertising slogans, as the manufacturer had not paid me first. It becomes increasingly difficult to find plain clothes. My granddaughter has influenced me to accept things like "nevertheless, she persisted."

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    1. I sometimes sport the little man playing polo on a Ralph Lauren shirt, but that is my limit. I do not wear Moschino belts...

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  5. I hate words written on things, but then I am old fashioned. Incidentally you did manage to get one up on me with your comments. Well done. Here;s to the next time.

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    1. Here's to the next season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, Weave.

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  6. Such is life. The words of an Australian criminal to his executioners, Ned Kelly I believe. Slogans are what you make of them.

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    1. Ned Kelly was not officially executed. His tin can armour was simply riddled with holes, but with him still inside.

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    2. Sorry - I have been corrected below.

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  7. Ned Kelly was indeed officially executed! He was hanged at Pentridge gaol as every Aussie can tell you. They even made a death mask of his face post mortem.

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    1. Oh. I apologise. It's been a long time since I saw Mick Jagger's awful bit of acting.

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    2. *cringe* That has to have been one of the worst movies ever made.

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    3. At least the video of 'Dancing in the Street' with Bowie only lasted a few minutes.

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  8. I like that he's sat there with his arms crossed.

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    1. He was very big for his age. He has now grown into his body.

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