Shot Boy

Ken Currie’s tragic painting, Shot Boy, is on display at Newcastle’s Laing Art Gallery. Having read a newspaper report of a teenaged boy’s murder in 1996, he painted the lad’s spirit hovering over his damaged body, suspended in time. All deaths are tragic; victims of murderers all the more so for they were robbed into the bargain. That Currie’s inspiration should be a mere lad is grim indeed.

Nevertheless, the facial expression is calm and peaceful; the fear and panic of having been shot are gone; death itself protects us from further harm and attack. The boy’s spirit rises gently from his body to enter eternity.

Those who say there is no spirit or soul are mistaken; we are more than bodies. When we vacate our temporal shells, we shall give account to our Creator for the deeds done therein. Attackers and victims, boys and men. None of us know when our bodies and spirits shall separate; therefore get right with your Maker while you still may.

But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

Job 32:8