‘A Dance with Death' by Dan Hollings

Recent works have taken on the imagery of angels and devils, but more in a sense of life and loss. A battle between realms of good and sin. But for the locals of Mallorca, the devil has its own festival upon historical Roman Catholic island.

Sant Antoni is widely celebrated in Mallorca, the patron saint of animals. He was an Egyptian monk who, as the story goes, was visited by the Devil, in the guise of a woman whilst living in the desert. Keen to avoid temptation he walked across the burning embers of a fire by way of a distraction and therein was born the tradition of fire and devils on the eve of the 16th January. Every year the locals host and celebrate this tradition, with fireworks, music, masks and costumes.

The Devils dance. Love how he walked across fire to avoid temptation by a woman. Geezers gunna geez

92 x 92 cm (unframed)

2024.

Oil, pastel, oil stick on canvas.