Abstract Paintings |
MFA Thesis Exhibition
Divine Flags, Divine Names
Unbound Prayers
Media - (Book):
Acrylic, Rice Paper, Silk, Ink
(Altar): Acrylic on Ceramic Tile
Dimensions - (Book):55 Leaf Pages @ 7.5" x 8"
(Altar): 24"h x 20"w x 4"d An illuminated script,
mounted on a ceramic tile alter.
Click here to see the Thesis Statement
(Altar): Acrylic on Ceramic Tile
Dimensions - (Book):55 Leaf Pages @ 7.5" x 8"
(Altar): 24"h x 20"w x 4"d An illuminated script,
mounted on a ceramic tile alter.
Click here to see the Thesis Statement
This prayer
book is dedicated to all seekers of inner peace in the outer world. Unbound Prayers is
inspired by the 100 verses of the chapter entitled, "Peace", in the ancient
Vedic scripture, Astavakra Samhita, and 108 Sufi prayers. The abstract
forms, which appear in Unbound Prayers, are painted in wet-on-wet technique on rice paper. The liquidity of
the paint medium is important, serving as a metaphor for inner freedom--relinquished
control. The chosen colors are those of human body fluids. Many of the printed flags,
which are revealed as the viewer lifts the small paintings, are perhaps unfamiliar to most
viewers.
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This is a good vehicle towards meditation since one is less able to project
judgments of racial, political, or economic status onto them.
Unbound Prayers is a scriptural marriage between Sufi prayers and Vedic text. The one hundred verses were originally written in Sanskrit, a language older than Hebrew and Latin. The very first sacred books of Hinduism are the Vedas. Vedas means Knowledge. There are four Vedas, claiming to teach humans the highest aspects of truths which lead us to God. |
192 Divine Flags
Acrylic on Canvas (192 individual panels)
Installation as Shown, 12' h x 19'w
Click here to see the Thesis Statement
Installation as Shown, 12' h x 19'w
Click here to see the Thesis Statement
Studying the
spiritually-charged color field paintings of Mark Rothko, I was able to envision the pure
geometrical shapes of color within each flag form as… transcendent. My intention is
to transform the idea of flags as political symbols of group ego into a personal
vocabulary of meditation symbols to aid the mind in transcending ego. Where these
flags were originally used to motivate soldiers in war, I see them as banners of a
spiritual war to relinquish the ego and align with God.
Thirty of the flags are composed of an algae-mandala form superimposed as a brutal contrast above a basic design of the flag. These marks serve the idea of natural decay, nature’s power over human construction—physical or mental (i.e. national borderlines.) |
192 Divine
Flags also serves as a visible
display of an inner quandary: "How is the geophysical, political domain connected
with the spiritual, egoless Kingdom?" The outer realms are reflections and/or
projections from the inner self. As long as there is inner conflict there will be war,
disease, pestilence... Inner conflict produces social conflict, and each moment of peace
that a person experiences contributes to world peace. This installation advocates inner
peace as the key to world peace. Outer and inner are complementary opposites, and thus
necessarily connected. Through meditation one can affect social and political change.
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25 Beautiful Names
Acrylic on canvas
Each Panel approx. 7"h x 5"w
Installation as Shown:
40"h x 30"w
(Sold)
Click here to see the Thesis Statement
Each Panel approx. 7"h x 5"w
Installation as Shown:
40"h x 30"w
(Sold)
Click here to see the Thesis Statement
25 Divine Names of God:
"The Manifest; The Hidden; The Governor; The Supremely Exalted; The Righteous;
The Acceptor of Repentence; The Avenger; The Pardoner;
The Kind; The King of Supreme Dominion; The Lord of Majesty, Glory, and Honor;
The Just;The Gatherer; The Rich; The Enricher; The Preventer; The Distresser;
The Benefiter; The Light; The Guide;
The Incomparable; The Enduring; The Inheritor; The Unerring;
The Most Patient"
"The Manifest; The Hidden; The Governor; The Supremely Exalted; The Righteous;
The Acceptor of Repentence; The Avenger; The Pardoner;
The Kind; The King of Supreme Dominion; The Lord of Majesty, Glory, and Honor;
The Just;The Gatherer; The Rich; The Enricher; The Preventer; The Distresser;
The Benefiter; The Light; The Guide;
The Incomparable; The Enduring; The Inheritor; The Unerring;
The Most Patient"
©2015 Harmony Global Enterprises, Inc. All paintings, images and text by Carolyn Goodridge are copyrighted and protected by the Berne Convention. Any attempt to copy or make a painted imitation or derivation of this piece of artwork is against the law.