Premio Combat Prize

If We Could Only See, is the last piece in a series of self-portraits that ask the direct question: Who do I belong to? Are we really disconnected from each other? Or can we begin to see that we are all connected?This work sits in a larger body of work that explores themes of belonging and the interconnectedness between all human beings. In an age where individuality is prized as the ultimate achievement of human evolution and consciousness, I have decided to return to the teachings of Zen that insist we are all part of the larger universe. There is, in fact, no separation between anything we encounter in life. Once we realize that we are connected to everything, and then we will finally come to understand who we are.I made this painting by burning wood until it becomes charcoal, then using that charcoal to grind down into a powder. After the powder charcoal is mixed with water and polyurethane, it is used directly onto raw canvas, all done in a single act. This happens after a 30-minute meditation session that is aimed at clearing any thoughts or images so that my actions on the canvas are as pure as possible. There is also a few graphite markings which are in response to the emotional conditions that surface during the meditation and finally three marks of white paint that render the connections between us visible.