Art that resonates deeply

Recently my friend shared with me photos of paintings by her friend in Australia that explore spiritual themes and I found these paintings utterly captivating. The painter’s name is Emma Walker and her new show is called The Dawn Language.

A Lifetime of Moments Dispersing, 2009, Emma Walker

With her new work, Emma says that she wanted to “use poetry, dreams, and the space of reverie as a pathway into meaningful material and imagery.”  Eventually, she began to think about memory, and the death of her father, and so with these paintings she “wanted to find a way of visually capturing the question: what is a life?”

As my father recently died, just last year, Emma’s ideas have been swirling in my mind. One concept has stood out for me, that of radiance. By radiance I mean that essence or spark of self that all living beings have. Emma’s paintings suggest that radiance and give us a perspective on afterlife and the cycle of life.

Emma’s new paintings remind me of Joseph Campbell’s book, Reflections on the Art of Living. He wrote there that art served a special purpose for western minds, saying “I think that art and this knowledge of what art can be is the modern way to illumination.” Art, he felt, often became a vehicle for transformation of consciousness, a means by which we could reconnect with the deeper flow of life and with that deeper place in ourselves. How does art do that? Campbell says art gives us “ a marveling recognition of the radiant Form of forms that shines through all things.” Ah, that radiance again.

Emma’s paintings also stand out as a glowing example in another way.  On this blog we have looked at the process of creating sacred space and what that means and how to achieve it.  One aspect of making space sacred is bringing in art and personal symbols that resonate deeply for a person, and as Joseph Campbell says, finding art that gives us that “marvelling recognition of the radiant Form of forms that shines through all things.”   It’s not about buying a Buddha head for the mantle simply because it looks cool and trendy.  Clearly Emma’s work brings us that deeper resonance.

Laid to Rest, 2009, Emma Walker

For more information on Emma’s paintings, contact her galleries: Tim Olson Gallery in Sydney, Australia and Finders Lane Gallery in Melbourne, Australia.  All works are oil and mixed media on linen.