Stories of the Ego, Self, Soul
2022 / Oil on linen / 180 x 450 x 2,5 cm (Triptych)
This work is inspired by the journey of life, where mankind is trying to regain the connection to the soul, to move closer to the light. This process of trail and error is the subject of this work, where on the left Ego prevails, is trapping us, moving towards the Self which is more gentle and less intense, before getting to the pure connection of mankind with the soul on the right.
This philosophy of the different stages of the connection with the soul is amongst others inspired by Dante’s La Divina Comedia.
In this work Van de Graaf is further exploring his mark making which is charged with meaning, representing a deeper (subconscious) feeling and desire.
This work is a prelude for the next series. In this series he will also further incorporate his poetry into his creative process.
On the 17th of March 2022 Van de Graaf wrote a poem inspired by the painting (translated by the artist from the Dutch original)
Permeated, distorted,
Besieged,
Enveloped by darkness,
Fallen,
in deep potholes, dug by the ego.
Ran away,
Bounced back, fought, won,
A ray of light in the Soul.
Opened, soothed, the return to the Soul,
Along the paths of life,
the longing to the light becoming the compass.
Mountains becoming rocks and turn into the finest gems,
in face of the Soul,
Which lives in the House of God.
Secure under the blanket of the reflection of the moon on the sea,
in the night,
When the silence make the Angels sing,
guiding the Souls to the Light,
Where the tones resolve all the matter,
till the nothing is everything.
The Dutch original;
Doordrongen, verwrongen,
Belaagd,
Omhult door duisternis,
Gevallen,
in diepe kuilen, door het ego gegraven.
Weggelopen,
Opgekrabbeld, gevochten, overwonnen,
Een lichtstraal in de ziel.
Geopend, verzacht, de terugreis naar de ziel,
Over de wegen van het leven,
wordt de hunkering naar het Licht het kompas.
Bergen worden rotsen en veranderen in de mooiste edelstenen,
in het aanzicht van de ziel,
Die woont in het Huis van God.
Veilig onder de deken van de weerspiegeling van de maan op de zee,
in de nacht,
Wanneer de stilte de Engelen doen zingen,
en de zielen begeleiden naar het Licht,
Waar de klanken alle materie op doet lossen,
tot het niets Alles is.
