| Sex, Life, Death. and Soul
Using colour in a symbolic way, as was common place in earlier centuries, it is possible to set out a frame of reference for an art work. White: birth, Red: life, Black: death, Blue: spirit, Violet: God or royalty. Green has, in the past been given the various meanings of health, vigor, greed etc... Yellow has meant intelligence, alchemical gold and cowardliness. The familiar chromosome mapping of x's and y's and objects that are metaphors for other things can be combined in an unlimited number of ways to speak a visual language and converse with a viewer. Braille and art both are best at revealing things unseen. Braille in addition to being a metaphor for the unseen can, in fact, be deciphered to reveal a greater depth of dimension or meaning in the art work. In this particular work, the angel of death hovers near, enticingly and casually, waiting for the flame of life ( spirit ) to burn it's self out. The small angels with horns are just horny little angels in life and spirit. The blue glass bottle is a metaphor for a human being; a container for spirit and sexual potential. The Braille text, once decoded, reveals it's self to be the second line of the first chapter of Genesis in the King James Bible. This inclusion broadens the meaning and range of the work to the larger cultural context and by this, escapes the boundary of the work it's self. What you see isn't what you get. Giving birth is not considered a sexual activity, but a miracle. The introduction of a new and virginal life without knowledge of good or evil. A new soul. Thus, in the miraculous conception, it is the child that is the virgin; not the mother. The mother gives virginity to the world; hence the "virgin mother." By this gift renewed hope for humanity. The miracle is repeated everlastingly. The painting or illustration then functions as a sign ( semiotics.) that points to the nature of being ( human.) |