The Pilgrim Series
My work elaborates on issues of identity as a social construct. Our sense of individual is formed by the interactions with other people and the places we inhabit. We are not beings in a vacuum, but rather in environments of shared experiences and narratives within specific contexts. Our most authentic sense of self diminishes unless there is dialogue with others and the world. St. Ignatius is an exemplar of moving from self-centeredness towards full engagement with the people and situations of his time.
Paul Rubens’ etchings of the Life of Saint Ignatius of Loyola are the foundation for this series of paintings that illustrates a modern man’s search for his most trustful self. These 16th-century etchings show that questions about authenticity, meaning, and what is real, are just as pertinent in the 21st century. The intertwining story lines follow an archetypical hero’s journey through a series of transformative experiences: he overcomes adversity, leaves family and land, undertakes an altruistic quest, and becomes an inspiration for others.