Genealogies

Numerous distinct figures cascade down hanging scrolls, suggesting a family tree or genealogy. The patchwork of lines, colors, and textures evoke an Ancient aesthetic or recovered document. The paint to pencil creates a hierarchy of figures in the pieces. 

To make this work, I started by researching specific genealogies, mainly from the time period in which scripture was written. Most focused on Biblical sources, Ancient Near Eastern dynasties, and pantheons of gods. Others were constructed from a mix of sources and one is explicitly about my family. From this, I finalized compositions and painted all the figures. I then did a process of editing and adding words, including the original languages of specific texts and names. These languages include Hebrew, Greek, cuneiform, hieroglyphs, etc. 

I find myself attracted to genealogies because of how they reveal structures of cultures and family narratives that often carry on into future generations. There are three ways I hope the viewer can engage with this. One is seeing art making as a form of writing and making texts visual. Second, I want to encourage us to consider the ancient world that the Bible was written in, and to question some of our assumptions when we interpret it and other texts. Finally, be curious about the connections that bring us together.

Genealogies become the place where all these ideas converge. With all this, I hope that the viewer can consider the threads that bring us together.