Skip Hill Fine Art

  "What does it all mean?", I am asked on occasion by someone who is attracted to, and yet intrigued by my art. Time was that I would try to explain only to realize that words tend to limit what the spirit perceives.

  The answer to what does it mean will vary, depending on which universe you live in.

  There is no one right answer. You just have to think about it. If the artist doesn't tell a particular story,  there will be a thousand stories.

But I can give you some clues.

  Featured to the left is an original work on canvas entitled Tembo Ahava, from the 'Tembo Series'. The painting is loaded with symbolism and motifs that resurface in this series of art works, particularly numbers, art history references, words from different languages and designs inspired by textiles from diverse cultures.

The process by which I work is intuitive; and while there are certain conscious choices and decisions I make in the beginning of the process, at some point the artist has to let go and yield to what Jung refers to as "...the innate drive that seizes a human being and makes him its instrument."

  'Tembo' is the Swahili word for elephant and 'Ahava" is Hebrew for love. I embrace the elephant as a motif for their majesty, their intelligence, sensitivity and the fact that they are revered in so many world cultures.

 I was inspired initially to employ elephants by photos of the elaborately arrayed creatures taken during the Holi festival held in Jaipur, India.

From an aesthetic view, their broad shape provides ample surface area with which I can introduce random graphic elements into the painting.

In many respects Tembo Ahava, like much of my art, is an abstract painting of seemingly unrelated imagery composed like disparate musical notes in a flat (as opposed to photo-realistic) figurative format.

 Collage elements include the symbol of the Tao, the poetry of Chinese monks, a bust of the Greek goddess Aphrodite placed above the Swahili word for maiden, a carving of the Buddha and an image of a Masaii warrior circa 1960's. There are also twin Mona Lisas, a Japanese Ukiyo-e woodcut print, flowers and an apostle from a 14th century Italian altarpiece. Each of these elements carry with them a universe of meaning determined by the viewer's own life experiences.

The various texts in this case reference musical terms (adagio, mezzo...). I approach the painting itself as a composition, an opera of color, shape and layered meanings that serve to spark meditation and contemplation.

The number eight is used visually as a graphic element but also represents new beginnings and eternity. The word 'chai' is Hebrew for life as 'shalom', written in Hebrew beneath the heart in the center of the painting, of course denotes blessings and peace.

And what of the birds? Well, here they are in a constant search for sustanance as we humans search for love and meaning in this journey that is life. The bird on the back of the elephant represents, for the artist, the symbiotic nature of all relationships. At other times the bird is a spiritual messenger or a symbol of inspiration.

At their purest level these paintings

are visual brain candy. It's when you engage in the dance of color, text, language, image and collaged elements do you uncover the poetic justice of the art. Enjoy.

  Skip Hill

  May 28, 2007