The experience of being on a sailboat, for me, evokes a boundless freedom of spirit. Away from the solid land, being reacquainted with the immeasurable sky above, and reminded of the transformative forces of the shifting waves below, along with the pure white sail and deck illuminated by a brilliant light, I feel vitalized and free of limitations.
In this painting the boat is surrounded by a quiet, mysterious fog. Its position and relation to land become unclear. Yet once the eyes settle on the sailboat, that is reinforced by the geometric shape of the triangle, it becomes a foundation of strength. The triangle when upright can be seen to symbolize an ascension from the base-ground of life to the great clarity achieved at its peak.
Symbolically this work portrays the ongoing struggle to attain liberation in spirit while simultaneously navigating the realties of the material world.
The Self at Sea
Recently I rediscovered documentation of a favourite painting from my early professional career. This painting was the inspiration for ‘The Self At Sea’, a return to painting in oils, and more importantly prioritizing ‘self exploration’ as the focal reason in making art. The early painting was titled ‘Abandonment’ and completed in 1995. Twenty four years later I felt compelled to revisit the motif of the lone sailboat at sea, and curiously compare the two.
