TRUTH | Surrealism

 

 

Graphite on canvas (unfinished)  |  40x60" 

“Nothing that surrounds us is object, all is subject.” ― André Breton

 

SURREALISM: Art aimed to revolutionize human experience, rejecting a rational vision of life in favor of one that asserted the value of the unconscious and dreams. Surrealism often contains: dream-like scenes and symbolic images, unexpected paradoxes, illogical juxtapositions, bizarre assemblages of ordinary objects, automatism and a spirit of spontaneity, visual games and techniques to create random effects, personal iconography, visual puns, distorted figures and biomorphic shapes.

Finding confidence to create the Cubism portrait was challenging, but finding it for Surrealism was a whole new level and completely intimidating in a different way. Not so much over depicting realism but rather the layer upon layer of context and symbolism to create a convicting painting. There was much more to learn in order to add these layers which meant I should read the whole Bible for proper research. Up to this point my inspiration (and relationship) was based on intuition, philosophy, pieces of scriptures and close examination of life lessons. It was great in the sense that it all led me exactly here to this moment where I was compelled to read.

Honestly, approaching the Bible was daunting all over again..eventually my need to connect with it visually breaks down, and I get lost. After reading a few books from the Old Testament I skipped straight to the end and dove into the Book of Revelation (BOR) aka: the apocalypse, Jesus’s return and judgement. The concept for this portrait had already begun when I started the BOR for the first time. I never realized how evocative, layered, explosive & unique this scripture here is. After taking time to process this vision John had, particular numbers and phrases lingered in my mind. The future is coming…

This is the same portrait as the others only that it is interpreted through symbolism. The concept that Jesus exists in both space and time had always appealed to me. We know Jesus lived in the past, lives in the present and is sovereign over the future. So that covers all of time. Looking at the portrait, there are spheres extending from where each number would be if it were a clock. This formation represents time (as we know it) and leads to a door that goes inside him. The 12 inner spheres closest to him represent each of the 12 disciples. Each disciple had relayed the messages, words and stories of Jesus to the next generation (the 2nd ring of spheres). That generation then spread it all to the next, and so on and so forth. This portrait shows the direct line of communication from Jesus himself to us similar to a map.

Regarding space: He is everywhere. There is nowhere that Jesus nor God, cannot reach. Whether you're stuck in prison like John who authored BOR, lost in a big city, or continuing amongst your busy life- you can always and instantly touch base with His power. God created each of us and we simply have to remember that, quiet down our mind and then we are connected. In the portrait you'll see little pieces of outer space in the background, but Jesus, and his energy/spheres, are taking up most of the space on the canvas representing His dominion over space.

In the other paintings, His hands are holding a candle, but in this case it is a stairwell. This stairwell connects the hands (which is now planet Earth) and reaches up through the clouds to an open door inside Him. After we die, there are the stairs that take you up to heaven. Since we are on the Earth, it’s a one way road for us, but Jesus had used it both ways when He descended down to Earth and ascended back to heaven. 

Other significant things to note: the flames in his eyes (the Almighty God’s pending judgement per the BOR), the halo which now shows the flower of life pattern (sacred geometric pattern found in all life forms), the light switch in the middle of the door (the special "aha!" moment when life intersects God’s grace, wisdom, law, love and light)... Aside from a few more ideas I have, this is where I left off. I want to add 7 angels with 7 trumpets holding a banner that reads “I am the door”. However, this portrait is far from over. More ideas and content come to mind as time goes on and I read God’s words. 

Although this painting is not done, it delivers the essence of Surrealism. This underdrawing is part of the ‘technique mixte’ process I used for the first portrait (Baroque) and is fun to show people. If you compare the two portraits you can get a good sense of the final product once the color is added.

 

 

ART HISTORY NOTE: This style of art emerged approximately around 1920. This style was known well to both art and literature. The main components toy and question reality, consciousness, & the subconscious. They are often put in juxtapositions of uncommon imagery to stir up layers of meaning. Some of the major surrealist artists include: Salvador Dali, Rene Magritte, Frida Khalo (however she did not consider herself a surrealist), Joan Miro, Andre Breton, Max Ernst among others.