In my current work, I explore the symbolic world of the carousel - a representation of simplicity and nostalgia that transports us back to the carefree days of childhood. With its endless cycle and uniform experience for all riders, the carousel becomes a metaphor for the unchanging nature of memory and the idealized past. The brass ring, a fleeting symbol of glory, invites every rider to grasp at a moment of triumph, reflecting the universal pursuit of significance.

The series, Menagerie: An Exquisite Corpse Carousel, reimagines this familiar motif through the lens of Surrealism. Inspired by the game Cadavre Exquis (exquisite corpse), I replace the traditional carousel horses with fantastical creatures - hybrid beings composed of mismatched animal parts. These bizarre and often comical figures stand in for their more elegant predecessors, offering a distorted reflection of nostalgia and the ideals we hold onto from the past.

Recent paintings draw inspiration from vintage advertisements featuring carousel imagery, often used to sell products ranging from motor oil to soft drinks. These ads evoke a nostalgic sense of childhood innocence, leveraging sentimentality to foster consumer trust and brand loyalty. However, the familiar carousel horses are absent, replaced by creatures stitched together from a patchwork of disparate animal parts. These jarring combinations fracture the idyllic, nostalgic glow, creating a striking contrast between the comforting allure of the past and the surreal, disjointed nature of the present. Vibrant colors and distorted forms blend to challenge the viewer’s perception of memory, nostalgia, and reality, questioning the idealized and often deceptive images we cling to from the past.

Doug Bennett is an artist based in Raleigh, NC. His work has been exhibited nationally and is held in both public and private collections. He holds a BFA from Ohio University and an MFA from Columbia University. While his primary focus is painting, he spent over two decades as a Master Printmaker in New York City, collaborating with both established and emerging artists in some of the country’s most prestigious print studios.