Perceptions of Pain
Suffering is a fundamental aspect of the human experience and holds a unique place within the realm of art. For centuries artists have grappled with the complexities of pain drawing from our spiritual; journeys to infuse depth and emotion and breathe life into our canvasses, instruments, and movements
if we look at suffering as a transformative experience then we can utilize it to be redeemed as something to mirror this struggle. Art can become that exact medium to explore and communicate the universal struggle that is spiritual growth.
Driven by these principles, you can delve into the deepest turmoils of life by illuminating human conditions and offering solace to others who resonate with our work
I even coined the name Tourchez to resonate with the idea of being the light in the dark.
suffering in a way acts as a catalyst to deeper emotional exploration It is through pain that we show our most raw and authentic forms of expression and of ourselves having a deeper understanding of one's emotions helps us not only understand others but also communicate it on a deeper level
Being connected with your emotions and being able to express them without worry will allow us to use them as a lens to reflect the human experience and connect with others on it.
Suffering in the context of this isn't romanticizing as something to be pursued but a faucet of life that, when encountered can be transformed into these profound expressions. It is to be said it's fundamental to channel the pain and not revel in it it's merely acknowledging its existence as an experience the way you would any other feeling and knowing that there will come light of it.
I created a Stretched 24x30 For this painting and titled it PERCEPTIONS OF PAIN It is of a figure that is wearing a white baggy t-shirt and dark blue/violet pants kneeling with head in hands curling up on a chair. inside his face is a blue sphere that is hiding halfway through the hands of the figure, The blue mimics the swirls of blue used as the background giving a certain harmony to the piece wrapping into the body surrounding this background is swirls of red vermillion, and yellow that surround and red ultimately is hugging the figure, using this as a way of conveying the change of perception of pain and how it radiates from within us to outside of us, and how it is only us and our mind that can change said perception.
As a reference to this image I took a creation from van Gogh called At Eternities Gate a picture depicting an elderly man who is in anguish over the idea of death I figured van Gogh would be the perfect artist for this subject for we all know how it turned his suffering into beauty and I believe that we as an artist must do the same “the more you love the more you suffer" I've also gained inspiration from a quote by fyodor Dostoyevsky that “Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart” this statement rains true as long as we keep an open heart to new challenges and don't become jaded from our experiences I feel as though these two had a deeper role on this painting and my life really
Van Gogh's art often reflects his struggles and his mental health issues, they convey emotional turmoil through swirling vibrant colors and dramatic brushstrokes, through which he conveys his inner world constructed of personal challenges and his emotional turbulence
on the other hand, Dostoyevsky explores the human condition by delving into the psychology of suffering and redemption, he emphasizes his ideas that through suffering one can understand life morality, and human nature characters in his novels such as crime and punishment often have inner battles, morals dilemmas, and the consequences of their actions often showing the transformation of suffering within their lives
both artists portray progress through suffering as a means of exploring and transcending personal limitations leading to growth and I do as well.
I believe suffering is beneficial to us as a collective as paradoxical as it seems, it is often seen as an unwanted aspect of life yet it plays such an integral role in our growth, Adversity, Pain, and hardship have a way of forging resilience, fostering empathy, and nurturing individual strength
The challenges we face act as a catalyst for learning and prompting introspection
As a society today however we tend to foster an aversion to suffering, emphasizing instant gratification we no longer love to feel the relief of a hard-working long day and evade discomfort at all costs.
The pursuit of a pain-free existence often leads to a contradictory outcome, more pain, anxiety and depression, the avoidance of discomfort stunts emotional growth and limits the depth of understanding that comes from overcoming challenges
From opting out of difficult situations, and uncomfortable conversations and choosing short-term relief we may be prolonging our own anguish and this could have in-adverted consequences on not just an individual but a societal background
