24601 - Les Miserables
by Ken Walker
Title
24601 - Les Miserables
Artist
Ken Walker
Medium
Digital Art - Digital Painting
Description
Created for the EDIT 56 contest with original image provided by Abbie Shores. 1st submission created as an industrial abstract paying homage the song "Who Am I?" from the musical Les Misérables, sung by Jean Valjean.
WHO AM I?
They think that man is me
Without a second glance
The stranger they have found
This man could be my chance
Why should I save his hide?
Why should I right this wrong?
When I have come so far
And struggled for so long?
If I speak, I am condemned
If I stay silent, I am damned
I am the master of hundreds of workers
They all look to me
Can I abandon them, how would they live if I am not free?
If I speak, they are condemned
If I stay silent, I am damned
Who am I?
Can I condemn this man to slavery?
Pretend I do not feel his agony
This innocent who bears my face
Who goes to judgement in my place
Who am I?
Can I conceal myself for evermore?
Pretend I'm not the man I was before?
And must my name until I die
Be no more than an alibi?
Must I lie?
How can I ever face my fellow men?
How can I ever face myself again?
My soul belongs to God, I know
I made that bargain long ago
Gave me hope, when hope was gone
He gave me strength to journey on
Who am I?
Who am I?
Jean Valjean
Monsieur le Maire
And so your Honor, you see it's true
This man bears no more guilt than you
Who am I?
24601
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Schonberg Claude Michel
Who Am I? lyrics © Alain Boublil Music Ltd., Productions Bagad, Boublil Alain Editions Musicales Sarl
Artist Note - "For my first submission to the EDIT THIS 56 contest, I was immediately struck by the abstract nature of the barn in the background. Recently being in a deconstruction/minimalism faze, I decided to go with my gut (for the sake of ART) and highlight the slats in the brick wall of the barn. This conjured up more of an industrial feel which eventually led me to remember my visit (as a volunteer) to San Quentin and the architecture there. (Fun FACT - in the mess hall there are some interesting murals that were painted by an inmate and are owned by the Smithsonian. As you walk past them, the object change direction and follow you. Fascinating) It wasn't long down memory lane there in the prison, combined with a recent viewing of Les Misérables that I decided to pay homage to one of my favorite songs "Who Am I" with the powerful ending where Jean Valjean declares his true identity, the prisoner 24601!"
Uploaded
December 30th, 2021
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Comments (1)
VIVA Anderson
Now, THIS ! is utterly amazing, words, music, palette, design. KUDOS! ! Stands on !it’s own. YOU! The poet. YOU! The ‘sayer’, the ‘see-er’..at full steam! WOWWOW WONDERFUL! fv, VIVA…muse/so proud!
Ken Walker replied:
.....BLUSH. What a glowing comment - I'm floored. Thank you - you're rubbing off on me :)