This autobiographical mythos is a language—much like the hieroglyphs of Egyptian, Aztec, and Asiatic cultures, written languages that were one part image, one part sound, and one part phrase. Each piece stands alone but is a part of a larger visual narrative. Within the work, various symbols create a coded language that in turn creates a phrase, speech, or title. This coded language not only speaks to the fictional visual narrative but is also a reflection of my own life. Deeply personal messages, thoughts, theories, and experiences are on display. The image itself reflects aspects of the fictional mythological narrative. There is a coded language present within the images. This code speaks to the worlds of reality and the dreamscape. The symbols, plants, items, animals, colors, words, numbers, and figures contain specific meaning to the character or deity while also speaking of actual events in my life. These events are tagged into each piece, creating the last feature. The breaking and exploding are representations of myself as I delve into my own psyche. This is me self-dissecting my psychology.
Within a single painting the work stands out as a phrase. An example would be the Fox Mask (Sex) + Space Halo (A place) + Knowledge Halo (to learn) = a place to learn through Sex = Sexuality… Use of triptychs allow the phrase of one piece to grow and become more elaborate telling a larger story. The repeating image of breaking and exploding are representations of me delving into my own psyche. This is a self dissection of my psychology.
The number 3, much like the language theme, appears throughout the series, and is reflected in “The Three Obsessions” (Art, Sex, and Death), “The Cursed, Jaded, and Relentless” (Knowledge, Time, and Space), and “The Dancing Passions” (Love, Life, and Music/Sound). Breaking this up is the wandering character, the Arbiter, an avatar representing the artist—myself. (Plus, I can’t afford models.) In this dreamscape world the Arbiter changes through his interaction with the deities. These forms are Jungian archetypes.
The first interactions are with “The Three Obsessions”. This transforms the Arbiter into Ego, ID, and Superego. This is a well known Freudian concept. This is a look into my own mind, while adding to the story of the Arbiter’s Journey. Ego is a dark figure with giant hands, electric hair, a brilliant chakra, and color pumping through his veins; The Creator. Ego is my reality. This figure appears when the Arbiter is endowed by Art. Ego is the search for pleasure through the real world. It is the force in which I find my solace through creative means. His large hands are a representation of tools used to get there. They are also a force used to destroy. This aggressive aspect is a link to ID.
ID is a feral figure with wolf eyes, sharp fangs, a bottle of whiskey and long, loose hair: the Outlaw. This figure is predominant in proximity to Sex. It touches upon my primal ambitions and pleasure-seeking nature. This figure shouts down all thought and self-scrutiny. This primal urge has been fought, but must sometimes be surrendered to. A freeing release from the constraints of Time and Space. The primitive nature of Sex (Eros) and aggression (Thanatos/Death), and their kinship to each other are why the two deities are closely bound in this narrative.
Superego is an angelic figure wearing a Tibetan Shiva mask, wings, and a fiery sword, rides a white horse, and has a hole where his heart should be: the Ruler. This figure is a product of the Arbiter and Death. Superego is the judge and punisher of actions. The consciousness of experiences. This consciousness also creates the “Guilt Ghost”. This figure is no deity, but a lingering specter of societal norms and scruples forced on me by past influences. (Parents, teachers, etc.) Superego represents the aspect of the person I should be, or want to be. Though this form is a terrifying image, it is a silent judge of the actions of mankind, revealing itself only when circumstances are dire. It is a reflection of a saint or martyr complex that silently plays in the back of my thoughts.
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