Alis Volat PropriisIn my eyes, spirituality is transcendent of structure . Each person goes through their own journey of self-discovery that leads them to their respective faiths. “Alis volat propriis” is a Latin phrase, which translates to “she flies with her own wings.” My painting is a way of illustrating the freedom I feel from structured worship, and how I feel like my spirituality is a way of transcending myself. I chose to paint the background of my piece as a watercolor because often in religion, water is symbolic of chaos and strife. In my painting, it represents the personal struggles that I have overcome and that I have yet to face, continuously challenging me throughout my pursuit of happiness. Each of the three symbols on my art piece is rooted in a separate belief system: the cross from Christianity, the lotus from Buddhism, and the Celtic trinity knot from Paganism. This is my way of saying that I do not identify with any particular religion, and that I find beauty and validity in a number of different faiths. The lotus blossom is the centerpiece of my painting, because it is indicative of my current state of life. In Buddhism, the lotus represents many different things. The pink lotus is said to symbolize enlightenment; red is meant to depict love, compassion, and all activities of the heart. The white lotus is often used to portray mental purity and pacification, whereas blue is indicative of knowledge and intelligence. Typically, lotuses are uniform in color, but I chose to blend all of these separate meanings because I feel that they are all equally important in my personal quest for bliss. The lotus is blossoming as a way of illustrating that I have not yet reached enlightenment, and that I am still searching for a balance between all of the elements in my life. The roots of the lotus travel downward and form a cross, which represents my upbringing in Christianity and the basic morals that drive my pursuit of true happiness. The Celtic trinity knot, though it may have Christian connotations, originated in the Paganism practiced by the Druids and was meant to symbolize eternity and everlasting life. I, personally, believe that we have a body, but we are a soul, and our soul exists outside the limitations of our physical body.
|
To read my exhibition reflection, click here.