Religious Imagery

I get a lot of questions about the regular use of religious and sacred imagery in my work. I was raised Christian and developed a nostalgic fascination with Christian motifs both visual and musical. In my early teens I began to question the faith part of religion but have since held onto my appreciation for the culture. There is a lot that science cannot explain. For example, what is beyond our limits of observation? And the more we learn about our universe, the more bleak and insignificant life on Earth can seem. As such, I firmly believe that there is of course a place for religious beliefs in the world of science. But personally, as an agnostic, I prefer to reserve the right to continue constantly questioning my own beliefs.

I find religious depictions throughout history interesting. We have become so used to the image of the crucifixion that the harrowing nature has been lost for many of us. I like to explore this desensitisation in my work. When we take a lot of these images out of their original context and into our modern world, it perhaps has the power to resensitise us to their original meaning. This also fuels my interest in minimally counter intuitive concepts affects how memorable an image is, something that has driven the evolution of religious imagery throughout history.

A lot of my favourite artworks that have inspired me also contain similar images. For example, Saint Francis in Meditation by Francisco de Zurbarán, Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion by Francis Bacon and my all time favourite painting The Madonna of Port Lligat (1950 version) by Salvador Dalí

Detail from ‘Skipping’ (2021)
The praying hooded figure is inspired by Zubarán’s depictions of monks.

Golden Time (2021)
Portrait of my Nephew held by my late Mother inspired by medieval depictions of Madonna and Child.