Mythos Morte (10)
Created on: Thursday, August 19, 2021
I am working on a series of still lifes that combine objects with rich symbolic value from various cultures. The paintings are inspired by mythical themes across the world, and by the works of Joseph Campbell, author of the Masks of God and a key influencer on George Lucas in writing Star Wars.
The works have many tensions - disparate objects and cultures, bold colors, textures and settings. Rendering mythical subjects in a photorealistic style is paradoxical.
To hold these tensions together, I often use simple compositions that can resemble shrines or cuneiforms. Flowers help to disguise the power of the objects. Myths relate the natural world to hidden worlds, so veils, glass and curtains often play a role.
Joseph Campbell argued that science spent to last few hundred years dispelling myths, and observed a modern hunger for them. Today this is evident in the movies we watch (i.e. Avengers, Avatar) and the games we play (i.e. Warcraft). It is also evident in the wild conspiracies that have plagued social media and our politics.
The similarities of myths across time and cultures is undeniable. These works form familiar, but untold myths, for which the viewer is invited to imagine their own story.
