Mask

I thought the self-identity theme of this 1989 self portrait – Mask – was appropriate for an introduction. Dressed in the bright colors of The Fool, I sit in meditation pose, my face removed and converted into a mask. Where my face should be, is a dark void – an emptiness that often overcame me back then.

The Fool of the tarot is unique. He represents both beginning and end. His is the journey from Joker to Ace. In youth his carefree attitude is attributed to ignorance, while in adulthood it’s attributed to acceptance and inner peace. Like him, I was intuitive but lacked the maturity needed to master that skill.

When I painted the background masks they merely represented seven early loves. Today, as I observe my habits, characteristics, likes, dislikes, etc., I can’t help but wonder how we adapt ourselves to accommodate others? How much do we adopt from others to hold on to them? And finally, how much of that stays with us, becomes us?