Growing Pains
Mixed Media
2017
This mask was created for anyone who has ever struggled being different. I looked to fellow Visionaries/Artist, the LGBTQ community, the Two-Spirit Native American and the Hen Ek Duoin (one out of two) story.
Quite often growing up and into your own sense of self can be difficult. But growing up with an natural gift/power in modern culture is a struggle that not many are prepared to take on. We as a culture don’t honor and protect our artist enough let alone our minority groups.
Artist often see, hear, feel and taste things that others don’t. Living with this heighten sense without the ability to relate or bring others to a certain level of comprehension often leaves artist isolated and vulnerable.
LGBTQ and other marginalized groups are often looked down on and forced to retreat into a place that hides or disguises their true identity.
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The Two-Spirit Native American tradition and Hen Ek Duoin (one out of two) acknowledges a 3rd “third” gender that is present and included in society. The Two-Spirit is often regarded as a being higher than man.
“ A common (but not universal) characteristic of Berdaches {two-spirit] was that they were believed to possess supernatural powers. It was believed that they could mediate between the psychic and physical since they possessed the visions of both sexes (called “double vision” by certain tribes). This was due to both their intermediate status in society as well as the belief that the spirits must have taken great care to create an individual so unique in society.”
Hen Ek Duoin (one out of two) refers the old myth that man at one time looked a lot different.
“ To understand the power of Love, we must understand that our original human nature was not like it is now, but different. Human beings each had two sets of arms, two sets of legs, and two faces looking in opposite directions. There were three sexes then: one comprised of two men called the children of the Sun, one made of two women called the children of the Earth, and a third made of a man and a woman, called the children of the Moon. Due to the power and might of these original humans, the Gods began to fear that their reign might be threatened.”
Despite negative attitudes towards these groups. Acceptance, honor and care is possible! This piece captures the emergence of a higher version of the self. The mask apologetically transforms and shells its outter self to reveal brilliant colors that visualize the power and beauty of being unique. Mirrors are also found on the mask in attempt to allow the viewers to see themselves in in the transformation. I hope you enjoy this piece