God's Grace
Michael L.
-
My photo, “God's Grace” was created in photoshop by combining a self-portrait with the "God and Adam" renaissance painting. I then placed the cut of me on top of Adam (the original character in the painting) and used photoshop to block him out. I wanted the brush strokes to match to bring the piece together, so I repainted over the entire painting using a transparent brush. This is one of my favorite artworks because of the meaning behind it. I was raised in a very strict religious community and looking at this piece really shows how far I’ve come since then.
As I grew up, I felt unable to ask questions. My church's strict rules, costumes, and expectations kept me trapped within my own curiosity. I was never able to explore outside the realm of traditional masculinity. The world functioned in a specific way, and no one gave me an explanation. All I had to do was stay within the box the church created for me, but it felt like this box was filled with water and I couldn’t swim. All I wanted was to breathe. The social constructs that trapped me within my box not only limited my view on the world, they limited my ability to explore who I was.
Creating this piece was a form of expression. I had finally reached a point in my life where I’d unlearned all the restrictions I was taught. Having the opportunity to freely explore my curiosity has changed the way I view the world. My journey through navigating who I am has inspired me to understand the experiences of others. When I look at this piece it feels like I can finally breathe.
-
Photography has helped overcome the fear of forgetting memories. When colors collide there's a second of separation, but these moments die young. Clashing colors will inevitably mix and the moment is gone, but purple is still blue and red. lost memories are the colors that have blended into us.
