Pie Crust Promises (Mary Poppins) - Canvas Limited Edition
Regular price £445.00 Save £-445.00My concept here picks up on the Pie Crust promise line that the children use in the story and the inclusion of the carousel horses along with the negative view towards this that was mentioned in the narrative. The original story gives the impression that Mr Banks doesn’t spend too much time with or have too much time for his children whilst his mother is focused on the Suffragettes movement. This means that Mary Poppins takes on the role of their primary carer.
What I have then done is to twist things so that we introduce a gambling addiction for Mr Banks (horses) and the negative impact of this is played out within the nursery. A carousel type horse smashes into the wood floor and dominates the scene, not only does this link to the story where they become detached from the fair ride and bounce all over the bloody place but it adds drama and signifies the impact that this addiction now makes on the family. The horse is actually real yet has been retouched to look like it is not, with cracks forming. This represents how something that started out as playful and fun evolved and grew into something very real and quite dark.
The mothers dedication to the Suffragettes movement is referenced by the white sash that has a line from her song ‘cast off the shackles of yesterday’ - this was chosen as it acts as a call to action to Mr Banks to seek to stop the gambling and cast away his demons from his past. I have then chosen to show the childrens’ frustration towards the family set up by them turning on their Nanny and being vocal (through wall scribbles) that they don’t see or want Mary Poppins as part of their family, they want their parents back. Mary is shown in a good light here, offering guidance through a scrawl on the wall ‘A stitch in time saves nine’ which means if you sort out a problem immediately it may save extra work later.
Ultimately the piece takes small references from the story and manipulates them to depict the negative impact an addiction (gambling and a passion) can have on a young family where the children ultimately lose out. Both parents are aware of the issues but are simply papering over the cracks. The references are subtle and through the darkness within the piece there is ultimately hope, for change.