Recognitions

I have always been an artist and have always been interested in religion. My paintings bring these two aspects of my life together, giving me a platform where I can explore my faith (or lack thereof) in a meaningful visual language. The forms that I create have shaped my life and helped me to find solace and connection outside of a traditional religious practice. My work is an expression of the ongoing search for truth in whatever form it takes.

Fundamentalist theology played a critical role in my upbringing, and I am intimately aware of its potential for psychological damage. My work explores the shadows of religion, not to condemn but to bring light and compassion to the darker aspects of devotion. My paintings are intended to draw the viewer into a contemplative state where it is possible to recognize one’s divine nature. This state of awareness is the origin and destination of all religions and the heart of the spiritual path.

In the series Recognitions, I play with linear perspective to create subtle shifts in perception. I reverse one-point perspective so that its lines converge in the space directly in front of the painting, an inversion that places the viewer at the focal point of the composition. Unlike traditional religious painting in which the saint or savior is situated at center stage, here the viewer becomes the vanishing point, self-contained and slightly removed. This shift in perspective suggests an alternative to the Judeo-Christian paradigm, in which one’s attention is directed toward a deity located just beyond her reach. In my paintings, the viewer is located front and center in the transitional space where she is both the subject of the painting and the object of devotion.

The illogical cast shadows that fall across the forms appear to emanate from multiple light sources, alluding to the countless deities who illuminate the spiritual path and cast their respective shadows. The forms are ambiguous, teasing the eye with their contradicting perspectives and defying a single interpretation. The inconsistent light sources and numerous frames of reference counter any claims of religious exclusivity; indeed, all spiritual paths end once there is Self-recognition. My work is a direct challenge to the patriarchal hierarchies of Christianity and any religion that asserts authority over its followers. I hint at an alternative path, one in which the need for redemption and salvation is replaced with the possibility of transcendence.

MH 2023