The Devine-The Creations Recourse

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

Symbols of Creation

In my exploration of printmaking, I expand into the alchemical transformation of materials, where the act of burning lino and layering with gouache washes becomes a dialogue with the divine and the mundane. This process speaks to the unassuming nature of elements that I’ve seen and experienced, creating a platform which invites viewers to engage with the unconventional and the transformative coincidences in their lives. Central to my work is the figure of a man leaping forward, reminiscent of the divine touch between God and Adam, yet viewed from a perspective that challenges traditional narratives. Surrounding this figure, cows and spiders emerge as symbolic elements, embodying the powerful oneroi - dream spirits - that guide my exploration of existential themes. Through the morphing of mediums, I invoke Morpheus, the god of dreams, and weave in the story of Anansi, the trickster spider, to reflect on the trajectory of calamity and transformation in my own life. The burning, printing, and painting processes are points of inquisition, echoing the eternal nature of fire through which the origins of the psyche were born. In the myth of Prometheus, fire was gifted to humanity, symbolising the dawn of knowledge and the complexities of human consciousness. Furthermore, drawing from Jungian psychology, the cow represents the animus, a bridge to the unconscious, while the spider symbolises the shadow, the hidden aspects of the self. The figure in the artwork embodies the unconscious, a realm of untapped potential and mystery. Jung's concept of the collective unconscious suggests that these symbols resonate universally, connecting individual experiences to shared human heritage. Through my art, I aim to illuminate the perpetual dance between creation and destruction, inviting viewers to explore the infinite questions that fire inspires within the conscious and unconscious mind.