PORTFOLIO II
A FAILED ATTEMPT
OR THE IMPOSSIBILITY TO DEFUSE THE LATENT VIOLENCE IN THE SYMBOL OF A DARK POWER
Although my digital practice has a wide variety of tools to construct, deconstruct and reconstruct images; any attempt to rid this symbol of its sinister power, to smooth or mould its parts into something pleasant, maybe to evoke a landscape, or a smile, simply failed. Every new iteration remained stubbornly angular in its structure, retained its inapproachable stiffness with an indomitable undercurrent of aggression, resolute and unyielding, resisting any attempt at eradicating the dark nature we have infused it with.
Even deconstructed in its parts a certain violence seems indestructible.
The powerlessness to eradicate the essence of the symbol, and the deeper question of whether its intrinsic meaning can ever truly be peeled away.
Symbols, like the Cross, the Eagle, Hammer and Sickle, once tied to broader cultural, spiritual meanings, have been appropriated and corrupted by those who seek to harness their power for nefarious purposes. Like the swastika, many of these symbols bear the heavy weight of history, making it difficult to disentangle their original meaning from the dark associations imposed on them.
What if … the essence oft his symbol is so deeply embedded in our collective souls, that it simply refuses to relent? What it stands firm as a reminder, that triangle of colonialism, fascism and capitalism is still present, embedded in the architecture of our systems but as difficult to recognise as ether, as the air we breathe? So how to pierce through this haze?
All images are created solely with parts of the original Swastika, no other images or parts of images have been included or appropriated.
Twisting appropriated symbols to subjugate the masses is part of human history.
Artist Statement
The power of visual symbols lies in their ability to encapsulate complex ideas and emotions in a single image. Throughout history, symbols have served as conduits for cultural values, beliefs, and ideologies, transcending linguistic barriers and resonating deeply within the human psyche. Yet, the meaning of these symbols is not immutable; it evolves with the passage of time and the shifts in sociopolitical landscapes. A poignant example of this phenomenon is the swastika.
Originally, the swastika was a symbol of auspiciousness and good fortune in various ancient cultures, from India to Greece. Its geometric simplicity and rotational symmetry evoked a sense of balance, harmony, and spiritual prosperity. For millennia, it adorned temples, artifacts, and manuscripts, representing the cyclic nature of life and the universe. However, the 20th century witnessed a radical transformation in its connotation.
The appropriation of the swastika by the National Socialist German Workers' Party, more infamously known as the Nazi Party, redefined the symbol within a sinister context. It became the emblem of a regime characterized by unprecedented brutality, racism, and genocide. The swastika, once a beacon of positivity, was indelibly marked by the horrors of the Holocaust and World War II. This dramatic shift illustrates how a symbol can be recontextualized by historical events and collective memory, becoming a representation of ideologies far removed from its original significance.
The digital images are available as Archival inkjet prints on Hahnemühle, 42 x 42 cm.
Or as oil paintings, 100 x 100 cm, framed or unframed.
Images are available for exhibitions and/or publication.
Installation view: UV print on 4 sections of 200 x 150 cm PVC panels or as one UV print on rollable canvas, 2 m x 6 m