Thursday, February 7, 2013

peace ... rising through the ashes of war





  





I have started this year with my alphabet for peace. 

Rather than create a beautiful and peaceful feeling I have chosen to create my peace ... rising through the ashes of war. 

Upon the dark & brooding background - which can be a metaphor for either war or the long dark night of the soul - peace in many languages speak out. Without wanting to destroy the image I have designed some letters I originally created for a piece of work which now resides in Portland, Oregon ... and pierced them into the ashes.

I have not worked the whole alphabet yet as the piercing is slow.  They will come on a week to week basis but I have created the words of peace.  The gold cross symbolises the PAX symbol - my schoolgirl motto. You see here peace in French, Javanese, Vietnamese and Dutch with my little ceramic peace crane watching overhead.

The materials used are 300gsm hot-press paper, brush, pen, gesso ink, gold leaf on miniatum gold size and pen white.

10 comments:

  1. These pieces have a lot of feeling in them. very expressive and at the same time very elegant. I think the pierced letters work very well to add meaning, especially with the gold cross included.
    Sandy

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    1. Thank you Sandy. I have been piercing for a long time but mostly on whites & creams which are gorgeous but on the charcoal the piercing has a different feel ... I can't quite put my finger on it.

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  2. Really wonderful. It is very interesting how the theme of peace has manifested itself so far. From interpretations of "peaceful" to the fragility of peace to the attaining of peace...all quite different, symbolically, I think! I'm thinking this ALAW, once everyone is done, definitely needs some sort of exhibition - I think it would really be thought provoking if we all continue in the direction (directionS) we are going!

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    1. Thank you Sally. I agree, it is marvelous to see so many interpretations. Curious too.

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  3. Gemma- These letters are really quite amazing. How did you get the coloring of the backgrounds (ashes?)? I love the contrast between the background, the pierced letters and the gold crosses.--Julie

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    1. Hello Julie, thanks for your kind words. The ground is done by rubbing black stick ink over a heavy 300gsm (140lb) arches hot-press paper that has first been inked, gesso'd, textured (scraped & scratched :) and sgraffito'd. x g

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  4. I love your somber approach to Peace and the distant presence of War on the background. Not because War attracts me in any way but because it's good to aknowledge its existence, 'lest we forget'. I really can't stop viewing and examining your alphabet.

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    1. Hello Ersi, thank you for your lovely message. I think with "peace" there has to be the other side ... perhaps war or conflict or a depth of personal depression or even just such a frenetic lifestyle or time where one seeks "peace". I guess with my work here I am nudging at war and depression but also the ashes theme is more like it for me right now with the ongoing bush fires that are no longer posing a threat here in Tasmania but did so much destruction just a few weeks ago. Just my mixed up thoughts really :-). It is nice to be able to physically create something to let these feeling flow ... out and away ...

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  5. It's a stronga and thoughtful alphabet G - I like that you have been able to prepare so much; yet leave yourself a little weekly task as well. The elements all work together really well to give the sense of the work.

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    1. Thanks Fi, once I started on the wording I couldn't stop but yes, the weekly piercing and gilding will keep me aligned with the ALaW mission :-) x g

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Thank you for taking the time to comment - it's always great to hear from folk.