“Impersonal Divinity”
18″ x 24″
Oils on gallery wrapped canvas, needs no frame, painted sides and comes ready to hang
Available for purchase on my web site in the 2010 Gallery
Here are the quotes that helped this work along its path:
“If therefore my work is negative, irreligious, atheistic, let it be remembered that atheism — at least in the sense of this work — is the secret of religion itself; that religion itself, not indeed on the surface, but fundamentally, not in intention or according to its own supposition, but in its heart, in its essence, believes in nothing else than the truth and divinity of human nature.”
-Ludwig Feuerbach
AND
“Not necessity, not desire –no, the love of power is the demon of men. Let them have everything –health, food, a place to live, entertainment –they are and remain unhappy and low-spirited: for the demon waits and waits and will be satisfied.”
-Friedrich Nietzsche
Many cultures worldwide, have mythology about Gods, Goddesses, and people who sport horns. The overall history for horned people is, (with the exception of some forms of Christianity, who demonized ancient mythology to created the Devil, and to help convert pagans (witches) into their belief system) that horns represent a connection with a higher power, the God-head, the Creator. In most circles of world study, this is commonly is refered to as the Horned God Myth.
I use horns to represent the animal/divine earth nature, the connection to higher-power wisdom, and to the feelings of rebellious freedom. I take back the history and reinterpret it with a modern twist.
This painting is a work about you, the viewer. Depending upon your internal dialogue, your systems of belief and faith, your systems of fear and self-awareness, your reaction to this work is revealing of your nature at this time. Do you see a picture of the devil? A shaman? A mythological creature? Evil? Good? Provocation on your belief system? It all depends on your mental state and state of awareness, personal history and levels of judgement. I think that is interesting.
This work is about the act of demonization that seems to be running rampant in our modern culture. Don’t understand something, someone, some other religion, culture, lifestyle? Well, then fear, hate and demonization are the order of the day. I don’t agree with that stance, I know there is a middle ground, a gray area if you will.
That is why he is painted in gray-scale, to represent that middle ground. You might think this work is of a certain race of human, but is he? His wide nose, large lips, broad forehead, may define him to you as being of one race or another. It’s not clear and that’s the point. That is my point. You don’t know, but your gut reaction to this simple work, should tell you a little more about yourself. Are you happy? Mad? Interested in the history? What are you feeling? Please feel free to share that feeling or to not share it as you see fit. Just don’t ignore that feeling, live with it and let it help you sort out what you really believe is true for you. It’s important that we discover our own truths, so that we might better facilitate understanding and peace amongst ourselves.
I want to convey my thoughts on the unknown, the different, the sacred. Those thoughts are simply this, demonization of the different is an act of violence and hatred. It never elevates it only destroys what is possible. It is evil. It is destructive and immoral. It is an act of hate and fear. It is useless to human beings, unless…it is being used to enslave, subordinate and control.
The most glorious thing about being human is that under everything, the skin, the religion, the cultures, the rules…we are all human. Blood, bone, organs, hearts, spirit and mind. Under our skin, and clothing we are truly a family of human. The differenced between us are our greatest gifts to each other. Diversity is freedom. We can reach a place where we are all on the same level…that of being human. I don’t have to agree with you, to love you, to learn from you or to protect your freedom ( or my own) to be or become what you (or I) desire to be.
It’s true.
We don’t have to draw lines in the sand over difference, we could choose to see that we are all one family, the family of man. We could stop the desire to control, to rule, to over protect the ideas of self, to have the most of anything or everything in order to have more power. We could choose to embrace the differences and stop trying to rule over each other. We could choose love, peace and understanding…we really could.
This work is a celebration of the art of evolution. The evolution of wisdom, peace, understanding and virtue that I know humanity could one day reach. I pray everyday for this to be so. I pray for peace, and I know it begins within me and you….one heart and soul at a time.
Thanks for being here today, I sure appreciate you all.
Heather
http://www.badkittyartstudio.com
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