![]() Religious paintings are personal expressions of an artist about religious themes and principles as seen through his eyes. This compels me to ask the inevitable question – should artists mix art and religion and if they do, should they be left uninhibited, free to explore the realms of religion through their art or should they be sensitive towards matters of faith?Īrt has the capability to illustrate and express religious beliefs, customs and values through iconography and body postures. Many artists indulging in religious art are grossly misunderstood when all they want to do is express themselves. There are several instances from the past as well as the present when the most artistic imagery depicting religion has been considered disrespectful or derogatory to the faith in question or has managed to create a scandal. The marriage between religion and art has always been one full of turmoil. That is how we are rediscovering ourselves as we get past COVID-19. For only from the ashes of who we were, can we rise up to become who we are to be. In times of doubt and confusion, the blue phoenix symbolizes strength, transformation and renewal. The phoenix teaches us not just to let go of our old self and our limiting self concepts, but also inspires us to embrace and accept the new us that is abound with all the goodness in the form of virtues that have been listed on the feathers of the phoenix in this artwork. The blue phoenix in this painting is a personification of mankind reborn after it succeeds in purging the pathosis that’s decomposing his humanity along with the physiological affliction that’s wearing him out physically, for a blue p hoenix is a symbol of rebirth, a return to being, and a new spiritual path. This artwork is a representation of man working towards his long impending goal – to break free from the shackles of his own vices and emerge renewed and victorious not just from the pandemic, but also himself. Not only is he fighting a deadly biological contagion, but also an intangible one, that is far bigger a threat to the existence of the human race that the organic pathogen itself. It has given him a chance to delve into the depths of his psyche and confront the real pandemic that has been plaguing mankind for centuries – his own vices, namely anger, violence, greed and his lust for power as well as wealth. This alone time, or “Me time” as I like to call it, has given him the opportunity to contemplate and retrospect on what he was, what he has become and what he should actually be. Thanks to the corona virus, mankind has been restrained to the confines of his four-walled dwellings like never before. While we continue our attempts at understanding this miniscule yet powerful entity, it in turn has taught us a lot of valuable lessons, not just physical ones, but also on a spiritual level. It has been almost a year since we have been in the clutches of this dreaded virus. This artwork is once again inspired by the present Covid-ridden scenario that our world is relentlessly fighting day and night. I call this one “et ressurectionis”, which is Latin for resurrection.
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