Theme Of Transcendence

Transcendence may be defined as “the existence or experience beyond the normal or physical level” and may refer to the spiritual, the fantastical, the magical or the otherwise immaterial. The theme of transcendence - particularly spiritual transcendence - has been explored through the centuries in religious art, such as that of Giotto di Bondone (1266 – 1337) and Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (1475 – 1564). Michelangelo explored such themes on a monumental scale, in works such as the Sistine Chapel (Figure 1), which depicts beautiful, idealised figures and images of spirituality. Giotto, however, examined the suffering and humanity of Christ, in works such as The Crucifix (Figure 2). The artist Deborah Bell continues in this …show more content…
This work explores the complex nature of opinion and and self-image. The disparity between my perception of myself, how others perceived me and the process by which the former becomes the latter intrigued me. Just as in Bell’s work, where Venus, Diana and Lucretia are removed from their mythological narratives, other’s perceptions of me appeared to be quite separated from the narrative I had created for myself. The video, projected onto the artwork, therefore suggests the thoughts of others being projected onto the self. The empty space in the drawing and black space in the video is suggestive of the silence that I believe facilitates the progression from self-image to reputation. The lack of mouths, empty space and symmetrical layout create a sense of intense placidity or passivity - "symmetrical groupings thus have the the stillness and rigidity of the symbol-laden ceremony of the Mass .” The number of faces was chosen not only for the relation to the three tenses, but also to trinities such as the three wise monkeys or the three fates. The use of the trinity also relates to Bell’s use of triptychs, mythology and religious concepts such as the Holy Trinity. The perspex overlay and coloured thread are intended to suggest self perception and personal thought; the lines linking the faces naturally suggests the linking of ideas, while the drilled holes - that pick up on the light - are suggestive of bursts of creativity and vitality. However, the perspex also functions as a barrier between the three faces and the viewer, increasing the isolation and passivity of these figures. The increasingly abstract use of shape and colour and collections of faces in the side panels, as well as the rich, colourful landscapes in the video, are suggestive of a mind much more free than the passive one represented in the first