This is an ongoing art project.
Its inspiration comes from the image of a seed planted in the earth—hidden and resting through late winter. What happens after the grain is laid to rest in the barn, and before it begins to sprout in spring? The seed lies quietly in the ground, and in that mysterious silence, the end becomes entwined with a new beginning.
In the I Ching, this state is represented by the trigram “Kên”, meaning ‘keeping still’ — symbolized by the mountain and aligned with the quiet threshold between late winter and early spring. Here, themes of death and life, dying and resurrection arise—thoughts evoked by the transition from the old (Chinese) year to the new. It is a time of inner transformation, where stillness, stability, and immobility are intimately connected with change, renewal, and movement—ultimately bringing clarity. It is also a time marked by deprivation, scarcity, cold, and slowness.
In the Christian tradition, this season corresponds to Lent—a time of introspection. As Pope Francis wrote on February 18, 2024:
“We too are invited during Lent to ‘enter the desert’, that is, into silence and our inner chamber, as we listen to our heart in truth.”
So how can we visually express this tension between keeping still and transforming, especially as it relates to a specific time of year?
At this point in the calendar, the sun stands low, and vibrant colors fade. The visual language of this project should reflect that: a reduced color palette, or even black and white imagery. Subjects may include mountains and rocks, solid ice (as symbols of stillness), as well as flowing water, auroras, or emerging vegetation (as symbols of transformation).
Please send a message if you’d like to get in touch directly.
Prints are available.