The Infinite Yes and the Secret David
In 2018, I made a series of paintings for a big exhibit at Silverlens Gallery in Manila. The work was greatly inspired by a trip to Italy with my husband, Edber. It is probably impossible for an artist to go to Italy and not be inspired by the art there. I will write about Italy in another post.
I called my exhibit at Silverlens, “The Infinite Yes” because after that trip, I thought about why I do what I do. I thought about this force that runs through me, maybe it runs through every artist, that generates a deep desire to create. I thought about the Great Masters of art and the work I saw in Rome and Florence. I especially thought about Michelangelo. I looked at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and I felt it. I felt that same force. I knew it was the same force that went through Michelangelo— that overwhelming desire to create.
I thought about the beginning. Creation itself and I knew that force was the Force. A WILL that makes movement that makes everything. I sat in my studio with blank canvases around me and I touched that thread that connects all artists and all who create and I followed that thread to that FORCE and I said, “YES”. I realized that all creation starts with that force and that yes. I felt connected to Michelangelo and I heard all the yeses that came from the hearts of all who have consciously made something, a true thing with their hands. Then I worked.
Three of the pieces in particular centered on the theme of Joan of Arc who also contained within herself, infinite yeses that led to the actions of her life. These three paintings are intricately intertwined. A trinity of infinite yeses. I painted these three paintings at the same time. Allowing them to have a conversation with each other and I listened.
Notes on the Constellations and their symbols.
The first few layers in each painting were notes on the constellations and the planets. Also forces containing infinite yeses. Then each one began on their own paths. One took on the form of Lacoon— one of my favourite sculptures of all time. One took on the form of Michael, the Archangel. One took the shape of Michelangelo’s Pieta. Here, I write about the painting I call, “Vision Birth”.
“Lacoon” tucked away in a little hallway at the Sistine Chapel.
“Vision Birth” is my ode to imagination. After the artist says, “yes”, an idea arrives at the door. It is formless and weightless and immeasurable, but it is there. It is a feeling— the yearning to form an image. The artist, then, uses the human power of imagination to bring this image forth. In one of the layers of this painting, Lacoon took shape. I knew that Lacoon had visions of his own but his story is about taking the vision through the unconscious. I needed to transform that image to a conscious one.
Layer 2 of Vision Birth featured my version of Lacoon’s figure. Cosmic forces shaping consciousness.
At some point in the process I put all three giant paintings together (Each one was 60” X84”!). I wanted to honour Michelangelo by creating a secret layer that involved all three canvases. I built my own '“David”. David is all about a “YES”. Big will and conscious effort. Vision Birth is the painting which has inside it the secret head of David. A head that creates conscious thought, overpowering Lacoon, or maybe merging with Lacoon. Left-brain-Right-brain conscious imagination to power creation.
The three paintings together. Getting ready for the David figure.
The Secret David. Vision Birth formed the head of David, representing awake consciousness—the image coming from willful imagination.
I turned the canvas for Vision Birth on its side to create a very distinct, individual, upright figure with a white bird at the head. The white bird symbolizing the arrival of the image— the vision— into one’s imagination. This is the result of conscious effort, conscious will to summon/receive/create all at once. This is where will forces magnetize the form. The human being wills the idea and brings together the whole cosmos of forces for the act of creation.
