Full of scorpions

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“O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife.” by Layla Andrews
Nolia's Gallery wall
Great Suffolk Street, Southwark
London, May 2023

“In act 3, scene 2 of Macbeth, Macbeth says, “O full of scorpions is my mind… thou knowst that Banquo and his Fleance lives.” The scorpions represent both Macbeth’s uneasiness and his dark desire to murder Fleance and Banquo. The knowledge that Fleance and Banquo are still alive fills Macbeth with anxiety and dread. By saying his mind is full of scorpions, Macbeth means that he cannot rest easy while they are alive. His restlessness comes from the witches’ prophecy that Banquo will have kings in his family line, which is a threat to Macbeth’s throne. Layla Andrews is a Brixton-based artist known mainly for her large scale, figurative and abstract portraits. Whilst people may form the basis of much of her art, family stories, the natural world, and her lifelong love of second hand treasure all inspire and influence her collections.” (O full of scorpions is my mind, Better Bankside)