Emergence

Artist statement

The intersection of meditation and visual art is my field of focus and I am fascinated with the ability of art to transmit sublime or transcendent states. My art practice has for a long time been concerned with the interconnectedness of all things. After years living in Japan and India a strong interest in Buddhism and meditation is combined with an increasing sense of the earth crying out for us to be more considerate in our actions and their consequences.

There is an ecology movement growing around the world that uses the Buddhist symbolism of Indira’s net. Indira’s net is described as having a multifaceted diamond at each intersection of every thread. Each diamond reflecting every other, each being a centre of the universe looking outward. Just as every one of us feels our own self to be the centre of our universe, at the same time inextricably linked to every other thing.

This net is a constantly reoccurring theme that haunts my work. The process of making my paintings is slow, chant-like, a kind of meditation in action. Surfaces are built up of dozens of layers of wax, egg tempera and washing back of layers, before carving the final lines into the surface with an etching tool, revealing a slow rhythmic notation of the web that connects us all. The process of making, and the quiet energy that it generates, is done with the hope to draw the viewer into a more contemplative space, with a possibility to feel the world around us in a more expansive and receptive way.

In the paintings Emergence and After-Resonance a glowing circle of light emanates from within an ancient field of perception. Humanity feels like a camera lens coming into a new focus where authenticity is essential. Since 2020 many things that used to matter and fill our days have fallen away. What remains in focus must be treasured and cared for.