Art and Spirituality

 Link between Art and Spirituality 

When we were exploring ART AS A CULTURAL HERITAGE, I discovered that most societal cultural practices link Art and Spirituality together. ART being a powerful medium for expressing spiritual beliefs , experiences ,and emotion. ART and SPIRITUALITY intersect in many ways  , some which are  :

EXPRESSION OF THE DEVINE

Artists create works that reflect their spiritual beliefs or experiences including religious practices , depictions of deities or abstract representation of spirituality concept e.g  Egyptian concept (Ma'at) , concept of truth ,balance, morality, order and justice

MEDITATIVE PRACTICE

The process of creating art can be a form of meditation or spiritual practice. Artists often describe entering a "flow state" where they feel connected to something greater than themselves.

SYMBOLISM AND RITUAL

Art is often used in spiritual rituals and ceremonies. Symbols, colours, and patterns can hold deep spiritual significance and are used to convey messages or invoke certain energies.

HEALING AND TRANSFORMATION

Art therapy is a recognized form of healing that uses the creative process to help individuals explore their emotions, reduce stress, and achieve greater self-awareness. This can be a deeply spiritual experience.

 

depicts a curing ritual, 

CULTURE AND RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS

Design Literacy

 Design Elements 

Design elements are the building blocks for creating effective and aesthetically pleasing compositions in various art forms, including visual arts, graphic design, and more.....  

Design Elements: line ,shape,colour,texture... Value,form,space,size, proportion and direction

Claude Monet's "Woman with a Parasol - Madame Monet and Her Son":

Title: Woman with a Parasol - Madame Monet and Her Son

Artist: Claude Monet

Year: 1875

Medium: Oil on canvas

Description:

In this captivating painting, Monet depicts his wife, Camille, and their son, Jean, strolling through a lush meadow on a windy day. Camille, dressed in a long, flowing dress and holding a parasol, gazes out at the viewer with a serene expression. Jean, standing beside her, looks up at his mother with a curious gaze. The parasol, blown inside out by the wind, adds a sense of dynamic movement to the scene.

Monet's brushstrokes are soft and feathery, capturing the fleeting effects of natural light. The painting's color palette is characterized by soft blues, greens, and yellows, evoking a sense of warmth and serenity. The background, a blurred landscape of trees and hills, creates a sense of depth and atmosphere.

The painting's focus on light, color, and everyday life makes it a quintessential example of Impressionist art. Monet's ability to capture the beauty of a simple moment, like a family stroll, showcases his skill as a painter and his unique perspective on the world.

1. _Line_: Soft, curved lines define the woman's face, hat, and parasol, creating a sense of delicacy.

2. _Shape_: Organic shapes, like the woman's body and the parasol, are juxtaposed with geometric shapes, like the rectangular canvas.

3. _Form_: The woman's body and face are softly modeled, creating a sense of volume and depth.

4. _Value_: Monet uses a range of values, from light to dark, to capture the play of light on the woman's face and clothing.

5. _Color_: Soft, feathery brushstrokes and vivid colors, like blue, green, and yellow, evoke a sense of light and atmosphere.

6. _Texture_: The painting suggests texture through the woman's dress, the parasol's fabric, and the softness of her skin.

7. _Space_: The composition creates a sense of space, with the woman placed in a natural setting.

8. _Movement_: The woman's gaze and the blowing wind create a sense of movement and energy.

9. _Pattern_: The repeating shapes of the trees and the woman's dress create a sense of pattern and rhythm.

10. _Atmosphere_: Monet's use of light and color creates a sense of atmosphere, capturing the fleeting effects of natural light.

These elements combine to create a captivating painting that showcases Monet's Impressionist style and skill.

THE ART OF EXPRESSION

 .."We don't choose Art 

ART chooses you "...a phrase i saw on insta 

 Well I'm glad Art chose me 

For i feel empty without Art

For it fuels my whole being 

 For it fills the depth of my voids 

And I'm forever not alone when I'm by myself 

But lonely when I'm with the ones with flesh

Being  an Artist is like Red spider Lily's lore ,so pretty yet the depth of its pedals  is so dark

"Addicted  to the impossible 

Seduced by the risks "

Immortalizing the one we call a muse

Allured by mystery  

Authentically channeling  the yin and yang hidden within the depth of our being .. travelling through  the rivers... that serves as a vessel leading to the deep-sea

BEING AN ARTIST IS LIKE RED-SPIDER LILY'S LORE , SO PRETTY YET THE DEPTH OF ITS PEDALS IS SO DARK

Analysis:

Beautiful Appearance:  the flower's stunning appearance represents the captivating exterior of Art ,enticing and engaging the viewers.

Dark Depth:  the pedals and stem's dark coloration signifies the Artist's inner struggles , emotions and experiences that fuels our creativity 

Contrast: the juxtaposition of beauty and darkness reflects the Artist's dual nature , where light and shadow co-exist.

Symbolism: in the Japanese culture ... Red-Spider Lily  is associated with the afterlife, representing the Artist's connection to the unknown,  the subconscious and the world beyond the Mundane

 

Why do I paint

 ..Why do i paint

 We paint for ourselves  , for prosperity and growth  

We paint for  mental health

 We paint  for love and connection

 We paint  cause is therapeutic 

We paint  to escape  reality 

 We paint to embrace  ourselves, to embrace  the depths  of our being 

 By we i mean me myself and i 

My flesh ,thoughts  and soul

We paint because we can not stop painting  

We paint  because  we are creatives and we can NOT stop creating 

We paint because we are human . 

We paint through (thoughts) through  paints through words 

 We bleed on paper,we are poets 

We bleed on canvas we are painters 

We dwell deep , drowning in the blues and greens of the earth

The question  is What is Art 

Art is a form of expression  that uses skills or imagination  to create something  beautiful  and/or meaningful.  It can be a visual object or an experience  that communicates an idea , an emotion or a world view.

 One could argue that Art is a never-ending journey , a journey under the guidance of an invisible thread, tied to the core of our soul. We run ,we trip... walk slow , we bleed.. walk to the opposite direction/ run in a circular motion , that's when we get tangled by the thread

  then we say we are going through a phase ....we feel stuck . some  make Artistry out of the struggle , embracing their shadow-self.We then create thread walls ....life starts feeling like the maze , yet the  walls feel  like the mind of a surrealism... 

The journey of art is a metaphor for life itself. The invisible thread represents the creative force that drives us, connecting us to our innermost selves. As we navigate this journey, we experience moments of:

- Progress (running): bursts of inspiration and productivity

- Setbacks (tripping): self-doubt, criticism, and obstacles

- Reflection (walking slow): contemplation, introspection, and growth

- Sacrifice (bleeding): pouring our heart and soul into our craft

- Exploration (walking in opposite directions): experimenting with new ideas and perspectives

- Circularity (running in circles): revisiting familiar themes, refining our vision, and deepening our understanding

The thread tangling around us symbolizes the complexities and challenges that arise when we surrender to our creative calling. It's a reminder that art, like life, is a journey of twists and turns, requiring patience, resilience, and trust in the unknown.

"Going through a phase" acknowledges the fluid, ever-changing nature of creativity and life. Feeling stuck is a natural part of the process, a sign that we're ready to break through to new levels of understanding and expression.

"Making artistry out of the struggle" is a powerful phrase – it means transforming pain, doubts, and fears into something beautiful, meaningful, and relatable. Embracing our shadow-self allows us to tap into the depths of our psyche, revealing hidden truths and facets of our personality.

"Thread walls" is a striking image, suggesting the intricate, complex patterns we weave around ourselves as we navigate life's maze. These walls can feel suffocating, yet they also represent the surreal, ever-shifting landscapes of our minds. Surrealism becomes a fitting descriptor – our thoughts, emotions, and experiences blend and blur, creating a dreamlike reality that's both captivating and unsettling.

ARTIST'S STATEMENT

 As the Dwelleth (depth dweller) , I embark on a Journey to conjure realms both familiar and 

Unknown. Capturing the beauty in delusional fantasy, using all kinds of elements. With the goal of inserting confusion to whoever views my art( a piece of my soul) and not be able to stick to one story ,  the artwork creeps in searching the for that deep hidden emotion, for them to dwell deep in the feeling of delusion yet self-aware and intentional. My creative process is a personal and intimate exploration , driven by poetic inspirations and a passion for capturing the essence  of the human experience. Through my Art , I am to inspire a sense of wonder, spark imagination and foster a deeper connection to the depths within ourselves.

In my creative journey , I learnt that every human grows day by day, you could say we are like trees but  our growth isn’t necessarily physical but psychological, therefor one can never say I know that person like a book. The yesterday me can never be the now me , the now me can never be the future me. The now  me learns from the past me , the future me learns from the now me. And all the mes will forever be a part of me and will all dwell in the depth of my being.

artist's bio

 

       ARTIST’S BIO

I’m Kgakabo Jessica Monyela (The Depth Dweller )/(The Dwelleth) ,a dream-like , surrealist fantasy artist , weaving together painting and digital media to conjure realms both familiar and unknown, impressionistic yet capturing the aura hidden within the depths of us. With the ethereal aura completed by the use of vibrant highlight. I delve into the intuitive rather premeditated, with the aim to summon confusion, a sense of wariness and emotional response. With the style inspired by a range of poetic influence. Bringing the personal edge in each artwork  that alter and enhance recognizable and delusional merged subject matter, cultivating an imaginative fantasy-like visual experience.

FILM APPRECIATION

 In Film Appreciation   class 

1st week  - we watched  Requiem a  Dream

The story begins with Harry and Tyrone coming up with a plan to make it rich by selling heroin. They enlist Marion to help them with the business, and the trio quickly finds success. However, the temptation of drug use proves too great, and they soon become addicted themselves.

Sara’s story mirrors that of her son’s in a different way. Feeling disconnected from the world and desperate for love, she becomes addicted to diet pills in order to fit into a red dress for her favourite TV show. As her addiction takes hold, she becomes increasingly paranoid and delusional. 

2nd week -- Candy Man

A chance encounter with an old-timer exposes Anthony to the true story behind Candyman. Anxious to use these macabre details in his studio as fresh grist for paintings, he unknowingly opens a door to a complex past that unravels his own sanity and unleashes a terrifying wave of violence. Synopsis

3rd week --The Platform

plot summary: In prison where inmates are fed on a descending platform, those on the upper levels take more than their fair share while those below are left  to starve on scraps and one man decides to change the system

* Metaphor for classes of society 

-when you're at a higher level , you forget the sufferings of the lower level, and when you are at a lower level you blame the higher level for your sufferings.

4th week---Pulp Fiction 

 

Plot : The  lives of two mob hitmen , a boxer ,gangster and his wife and a pair of diner bandits intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption.