Theothanatos X-Eve/Sacramenstrual
24" X 36"
Oil on Canvas
2009
Primarily with this work, I wanted very much to observe the symbolic contradictions that exist within religion-or at least within the holy sacrament and the way women are treated. From the ingesting of Christs blood- offset against the vilification of the unchaste (Eve-Magdeline) symbolic of a bloodied hymen through the virtuous elevation of the virgin, to the doctrine charge of impurity and desexualisation of women during the menstrual cycle in Leviticus 15 (some cultures still sequester females in menstrual huts), echoed by the torn red curtain of the confessional, and the 'rivers of blood' snaking between the columns.
I'm hugely proud of the accomplishment of this work, its evolution was very much an ongoing organic process.
I'll make prints available soon.
I had intended to post more wip's, but my camera went wayward following a live painting event. For whomever discovered it, those final pictures will garner such delights as an exquisite half naked young female, being body painted like some Gigeresque extra. I kid you not.
So, in between side projects, a bout of flu in which I caught up my Netflix and the entire first season of Weeds, and some sweat time at the gym, I've been tickling away at the new piece.
Provisionally entitled it-'Sacramenstrual.'-thanks to my new digital camera, you can see how its developing. There's still a ways to go with some glazing and finnesse, but for the most part, conceptually my intent is there.
Without a hint of irony, my wife and I spent the first day of 2009 in Tombstone. An extraordinary raw place-which left an undefinable mark on me-I shall be making a full picture post as time presents.
With the show looming however, I wanted very much to display the latest progression of the piece- that I'm hoping (wet paint being the biggest factor) to debut at the Ruby Room this Thursday.
Its odd to see the thought processes evolve on the canvas as I go-what began as a fairly pedestrian exposition on sex, death and the religious interplay between the two, has developed into a paradox of imagery: the veneration of the virgin, the symbolic sharing of blood during the sacrament, the aversion to menstruation in some religious cultures, the curtains of the confessional booth, the curtains of Amsterdam, the curtain of blood, the female sex as a symbol of life, the skull as a symbol of death, the whole life, death and resurrection show.
I'm fairly content with how its progressing,but as is always the case with my work, wish I had more time. I'll post final progressions this evening.
