JC week 13: Artist Statement

NB: journal entry for the Jewellery and Small object module at South bank Griffith university (QCA) to view the full journal click here

Artist Statement 

Objects are a record of a point in time. They reflect our beliefs, rituals and traditions. The intention was to create an object that is a statement about my identity, focusing on my beliefs, rituals and traditions as a pentecostal christian with strong ties to my British heritage.

Context : Sense of identity
This artwork is a statement and critique of identity. Identity is formed within a complex matrix of many variables that include gender, sexuality, ethnicity, class, religion, community and nation.
I identify with heteronormativity, masculinity, caucasian ethnicity of british heritage, and as middle class surburban, but these are shadowed by my identification as part of the christian community.
 As a statement of cultural identity this art object does not speak much about "australian suburban beach culture" that surrounds the Kingscliff and Tweedcoast/Goldcoast area. This artwork is intended as a reflection of the displacement and sense of disorientation in the contemporary world felt by many christians and a personal expression of those beliefs. We live in an age of independence, an age where meaning and truth is created by the individual , morality is relative, perversions celebrated and personal choice rules . We live in an age where Religion is seen an oppressive bureaucracy and No religion has the right to pronounce itself right or true. Religion is broadly seen today to be a cause of intolerance and war, faith-based political fanatiscism, backward-thinking attitudes to women or sexuality and having moral contradiction to the ways people want to live their lives.
Personal identity through a sense of cultural displacement and personal christian beliefs and has been explored through the creation  a sculptural art object that uses the form of a sword.


A sword is not a passive object, its an object of action. And it is this manifestation of action as opposed to pacivity that coveys the applications of the beliefs that are imbued in the form. The use of the two handed sword form is to reflect my connection with my british heritage. The nature of two-hander swords is that they are designed for offence and defense, with a double edged blade, and were used up until the age of enlightenment, which coincides with societal shifts towards christian beliefs. The significance of a double edged blade is that it potentially cuts the wielder, thus making reference to the self reflectivity of beliefs.

As the physical manifestation of my christian belief system in each portion of the sword conceptually embues the physicality of the part with a spiritual application.
The use of figurative imagery on the handle illustrates the real world application of beliefs, following the christian saying of "faith(beliefs) without actions are dead"(James 2:14-17)
The spiritual application of beliefs being illustrated are:

1. Child holding baloon - Maintaining a faith that is child like, with infinite joy, contentment, thankfulness, imagination, innocence and optimism.
2. Old man - Carrying your own burdens and the burdens of those in need.
3. Artist - Use your gifts, whether in the arts, music, science, cooking, cleaning. In my case its arts. And to not let them go to waste.
4. Couple - Honor and love your wife as christ loved the church
5. Adult and child - Fatherhood, guidance and mentorship
6. helping up person - always be willing to help other, teachings and leadings purpose is to lift others up 

The function of a swords pommel is to act as counter weight, shifting the point of balance on the sword. The symbolism of the winder is to represent my ecclesiastical beliefs of seasons and beliefs in how the universe is formed and functions. The ecclesiastical beliefs are that there is a time for everything, including your own birth and death, prosperity and hardship. You never know how long you have and that there is a god made plan. And furthered by my beliefs in the complexity and functionality of physical reality, that it was created and watched over and that all things have a beginning and an end. And aludes to belief in time itself, which is relative (perceived differently by all 2 peter 3:8 (NIV) 'one day is like a thousand years'... to god) and in the concept of Time's Arrow which relates to the prevelance of prophecy in the bible.

The cross guard's symbolism of the wings is a common image for the holy spirit, meaning that the protection and strength for the wielder is the holy spirit. Connection with the holy spirit is a defining characteristic of pentecostal christians, which occurs after salvation, anointing them for special christian service and spiritual warfare (struggles against spiritual enemies).
The blade itself will be constructed from key scriptures (King James Bible, 1952) which form the foundation of my beliefs. The paper blade aludes to the spiritual and non-literal purpose of the sword. It is real, tangible, and powerful weapon that is to be used in spiritual battles. The scriptures used in this artwork are key scriptures relating to the concepts covered in image selection, the cross guard and pommel and key areas of christian belief.
 These are:

Ephesians 6 (christian conduct and armour of god), Colossians 3 (living as those made in christ), Peter 3 (marriage) ,1 corithians 10 (warnings), Hebrews 11 (faith), Romans 14 (tolerance), Titus (leadership), 1 timothy 4 (spiritual training), Proverbs 1 (wisdom), John 1 17 (moses and jesus) Romans 3 23 (salvation) Ecclesiastes (seasons of life)

This artwork is being displayed free standing with the sword vertically attached to the base of a pulpit. The free standing nature, and low display height (below chest height) has been chosen to convey a sense of disconnection, seclusion and vulnerability. This aesthetic was inspired by Bill Viola's artwork 'Tristan's ascesntion'. The sword tip pointing towards the ground to alude to the purpose of the blade being used in "worldy" spiritual battles. Traditionally pulpits are used to preach to others. The use of the pulpit base is to support the concept of the "purpose" of the sword. In that its a transentental object designed for sharing and expression of beliefs and christian faith.

The use of brass in this project was to make reference to gold(through coloration) that was often used in christian religious relics. To support the concept of disconnection and disorientation with contemporary society I chose to use a sulphur patina technique to "age" the brass, giving a dull, mottled and worn appearance. This aesthetic choice was repeated in the blades paper and in the choice of pulpit. But to show that the connection with the holy spirit is still relevant today, I chose to leave the cross guard   ( which is made from aluminium ) clean and sharp. 


In conclusion, as an art object, i feel that it effectively conveys my current sense of identity through its form, relating to my british heritage and conceptual connections which relate directly to my christian beliefs. This art object also effectively reflects the sense of disorientation and disconnection felt as a christian towards contemporary australian culture through its aged aesthetic and display method.