Toward Unity 3, May 31, 2012, acrylic painting, 76cm x 76cm
Unity, May 31, 2009, acrylic on board, 76 cm x 76 cm
Toward Unity 1, June 24, 2009, acrylic painting, 76 cm x 76 cm
Toward Unity 2, Jan 16, 2009, acrylic painting, 76.2 x 76.2 cm
The Unity and Toward Unity paintings and drawings are a series begun in the Spring of 2009. These works contain the symbols, a hexagram or the six pointed star, the cross and the crescent and polygram or five pointed star. The three symbols represent the three monotheistic faiths, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. While these symbols have a traditional reference to a particular faith they also are seen and used in other contexts from antiquity to modern times.
Use of the symbols originate from an interest in geometry and in particular the designs seen in ancient mosques in Egypt,Pakistan, India and Kashmir. A keen interest occurred viewing the domes inside mosques in Kashmir which have a type of muqarnas constructed of carved and decorated wood beams that overlap and progress upwards producing a powerfull sense of depth and movement. Other times light can create an effect on the surface that alternates between defining form and dissolving it. The idea of uniting the three symbols is to convey the message of a common origin and universality of message.
Universal Unity, August 30, 2009 drawing, 76.8 x 76.8 cm,