EVOLUTION
Evolution was originally exhibited at Europia Espace Galerie in Paris, France. The exhibition was titled July 2006. Artists from all over the world responded to the violence in Lebanon during that time.
Artist Statement
For thousands of years we have witnessed violence breeding more violence. Sadly, the recent fighting in Lebanon will be no different. As we fail to leave the war option behind we inevitably create more misery, suffering and hatred by the toxic energy that seeps into our psyches and continues to dismantle the nature of the human spirit at the purest level.
Evolution is a move away from violence. I realize, ironically, the act of shredding pages from holy books may be seen as a violent act. However, that was not my intention. These books have been in existence for thousands of years. They in themselves are not the problem, but the way they are interpreted and used in today’s world to divide, dismiss, condemn and destroy is undeniably causing problems. In every other aspect of knowledge, be it science, art, philosophy or politics, the subject matter must bear on-going scrutiny and criticism for it to evolve and improve the way it serves humanity. Yet we protect religion as an untouchable subject for evaluation or change.
Evolution is a symbol for a change in consciousness. It is a human experience - a metaphor for imperfection and differences. Evolution is an attempt to destroy the old to create anew, like a forest when it spontaneously combusts, allowing fragile new growth to occur. The words from the texts, now completely out of context and sparse, create poetry rather than dogma. Evolution, literally, will lead us to a new way of knowing truth.
From this work, my hope is to create dialog. Like the pieces in Evolution, each of us are completely unique and individual, yet certainly we are connected. We need to open ourselves to what others may teach us about our own human-ness.
Artist Statement
For thousands of years we have witnessed violence breeding more violence. Sadly, the recent fighting in Lebanon will be no different. As we fail to leave the war option behind we inevitably create more misery, suffering and hatred by the toxic energy that seeps into our psyches and continues to dismantle the nature of the human spirit at the purest level.
Evolution is a move away from violence. I realize, ironically, the act of shredding pages from holy books may be seen as a violent act. However, that was not my intention. These books have been in existence for thousands of years. They in themselves are not the problem, but the way they are interpreted and used in today’s world to divide, dismiss, condemn and destroy is undeniably causing problems. In every other aspect of knowledge, be it science, art, philosophy or politics, the subject matter must bear on-going scrutiny and criticism for it to evolve and improve the way it serves humanity. Yet we protect religion as an untouchable subject for evaluation or change.
Evolution is a symbol for a change in consciousness. It is a human experience - a metaphor for imperfection and differences. Evolution is an attempt to destroy the old to create anew, like a forest when it spontaneously combusts, allowing fragile new growth to occur. The words from the texts, now completely out of context and sparse, create poetry rather than dogma. Evolution, literally, will lead us to a new way of knowing truth.
From this work, my hope is to create dialog. Like the pieces in Evolution, each of us are completely unique and individual, yet certainly we are connected. We need to open ourselves to what others may teach us about our own human-ness.
