Smile, Mr. Dodgson
Medium: Acrylic on cotton canvas
Dimensions: 80x100 cm
Smile, Mr. Dodgson captures the essence of a smile, paired with a quote from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland: “The secret, Alice, is to surround yourself with people who make your heart smile. It is then, and only then, that you will find Wonderland.” The text is designed in a font that mimics the teeth in the exaggerated grin of the Cheshire Cat, the mischievous, grinning feline that has become synonymous with Carroll’s world. Known for its cryptic and playful nature, the Cheshire Cat famously says, “Most everyone’s mad here; You may have noticed that I’m not all there myself.”
Piccasi, too, was often seen as naive and unrealistic in her early years—a critique she embraced. In this piece, the artist invites viewers to reflect on their own nature and asks: How mad are you?
The title, Smile, Mr. Dodgson, is a tribute to Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, the man behind the pen name Lewis Carroll. Just as Piccasi uses an alias, she reflects on the power of creative works to transcend time. While Mr. Dodgson is no longer alive, his works continue to inspire, giving him the chance to "smile" even after death. The smile, therefore, is not just a reference to the Cheshire Cat but symbolizes the enduring life of art. Books, paintings, and all forms of art are living organisms—growing and evolving every time someone engages with them, breathing new life into their creators.
In Smile, Mr. Dodgson, Piccasi explores the eternal nature of creativity and the ways in which art continues to resonate long after its creators have gone, encouraging viewers to consider how their own creations might live on.
Medium: Acrylic on cotton canvas
Dimensions: 80x100 cm
Smile, Mr. Dodgson captures the essence of a smile, paired with a quote from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland: “The secret, Alice, is to surround yourself with people who make your heart smile. It is then, and only then, that you will find Wonderland.” The text is designed in a font that mimics the teeth in the exaggerated grin of the Cheshire Cat, the mischievous, grinning feline that has become synonymous with Carroll’s world. Known for its cryptic and playful nature, the Cheshire Cat famously says, “Most everyone’s mad here; You may have noticed that I’m not all there myself.”
Piccasi, too, was often seen as naive and unrealistic in her early years—a critique she embraced. In this piece, the artist invites viewers to reflect on their own nature and asks: How mad are you?
The title, Smile, Mr. Dodgson, is a tribute to Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, the man behind the pen name Lewis Carroll. Just as Piccasi uses an alias, she reflects on the power of creative works to transcend time. While Mr. Dodgson is no longer alive, his works continue to inspire, giving him the chance to "smile" even after death. The smile, therefore, is not just a reference to the Cheshire Cat but symbolizes the enduring life of art. Books, paintings, and all forms of art are living organisms—growing and evolving every time someone engages with them, breathing new life into their creators.
In Smile, Mr. Dodgson, Piccasi explores the eternal nature of creativity and the ways in which art continues to resonate long after its creators have gone, encouraging viewers to consider how their own creations might live on.
Medium: Acrylic on cotton canvas
Dimensions: 80x100 cm
Smile, Mr. Dodgson captures the essence of a smile, paired with a quote from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland: “The secret, Alice, is to surround yourself with people who make your heart smile. It is then, and only then, that you will find Wonderland.” The text is designed in a font that mimics the teeth in the exaggerated grin of the Cheshire Cat, the mischievous, grinning feline that has become synonymous with Carroll’s world. Known for its cryptic and playful nature, the Cheshire Cat famously says, “Most everyone’s mad here; You may have noticed that I’m not all there myself.”
Piccasi, too, was often seen as naive and unrealistic in her early years—a critique she embraced. In this piece, the artist invites viewers to reflect on their own nature and asks: How mad are you?
The title, Smile, Mr. Dodgson, is a tribute to Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, the man behind the pen name Lewis Carroll. Just as Piccasi uses an alias, she reflects on the power of creative works to transcend time. While Mr. Dodgson is no longer alive, his works continue to inspire, giving him the chance to "smile" even after death. The smile, therefore, is not just a reference to the Cheshire Cat but symbolizes the enduring life of art. Books, paintings, and all forms of art are living organisms—growing and evolving every time someone engages with them, breathing new life into their creators.
In Smile, Mr. Dodgson, Piccasi explores the eternal nature of creativity and the ways in which art continues to resonate long after its creators have gone, encouraging viewers to consider how their own creations might live on.