Butterflies have been used symbolically in art in many cultures throughout history. According to Wikipedia artistic depictions of butterflies were used in Egyptian hieroglyphs over 3500 years ago, and “in the ancient Mesoamerican city of Teotihuacan, the brilliantly colored image of the butterfly was carved into many temples, buildings, jewelry, and emblazoned on incense burners.” Butterfly images have been found among the Zapotec and Mayan civilizations as well. The symbolism of butterflies varies among cultures and times, but many ideas revolve around change and transformation, such as: · Powerful transformation, metamorphosis in your life, personality · Moving through different life cycles · Renewal, rebirth · Lightness of being, playfulness · Elevation from earthly matters, tuning into emotional or spiritual · The world of the soul, the psyche In my new butterfly series I explore concepts of change and metamorphosis, using butterflies as symbols of miraculous expansion and growth. I celebrate transformation in these images. While I did not specifically set out to create a new series exploring change and metamorphosis, it may come as no surprise that this series developed throughout my pregnancy. Several days after learning I was pregnant I found the below butterfly on the sidewalk while walking down the street in Telluride, Colorado. I carefully took it with me while I traveled for several more weeks before getting it safely home intact and in my darkroom to create art with it. I loved the results immediately! Soon after my husband bought me the below set of insects and butterflies to continue my new explorations. I love working with these beautiful creatures! The symbolism they express around ideas of change, transformation, and moving through different life cycles are mirrors of my own life, and the symbolism they express around ideas of lightness of being, playfulness, and tuning into spiritual are illustrated in my artworks. I am continuing to work on this series this quarter. |
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I am an artist working with light, combining contemporary & archaic processes to push the bounds of conventional photography. Archives
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