Ecclestical works by Ian de Souza 1956 to 2010

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The "Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ" was a finalist in the 2007 MANDORLA ART AWARD. 

The representational image of Jesus the human man is clear in the first frame and as the ink bleeds through successive layers of rice paper,  it transforms into an abstracted image; a representation of the Spirit risen to be at one with God. 

The ink was applied to the top sheet of rice paper and bled through the underlying layers delicately  changing the image from realism to abstraction.  Both the process of making the work and the work itself reflects the title which in turn represents the  belief that is central to the Christian faith.

From the artist's earliest days in a minor seminary college in Galong NSW he has painted ecclesiastical works.  In these time honoured  subjects the artist explores the distillation of spirit from matter.

He remains particularly inspired by the seminal philosophic and spiritual writings of Joseph Campbell (dec'd) _{author Power of Myth}

 

 

L'Annunciazione oil on canvas 156x163cm 2004 Aus $11,000. sold	Pieta oil on canvas 180 x 120cm 2004 Aus $9900. sold
untitled oil on canvas 180 x 160cm 2008 Aus $11000.	Butoh - an avant garde dance movement formed in Japan after WW11 - described as " the dance of the dark soul" ......a butoh dancer trains for 7 years, never replicating a gesture within their performance. sold
PASSION,DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF CHRIST - finalist MANDORA ART AWARD 2007 ink "bleeding" through successive layers of rice paper 4 pieces @ 60 x 40cm 2007 NFS	of Earth...... oil on canvas 163 x 154cm 2005 Aus $11,000. sold
the silent world within oil on canvas 120 x 130cm acrylic on paper NFS	mother and child 1 acrylic on paper 160 x 150cm 2000 NFS
Passion of Christ - painted by Ian de Souza aged 16 yrs house paint on board - this image was used as a banner for sacred ceremonies Front Cover of Majellan Catholic magazine 1966 This image was the inspiration for PASSION, DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF CHRIST 2007	Mother and Child linebrush with wash on paper 80 x 60cm 2004 Aus $2600. sold
Mother and child acrylic on canvas 90 x 150cm 2000 NFS	Passion of Christ - originally 6 panels, edited to 4 panels bleeding ink thru 6 panels of rice paper. The artists paints only on the first sheet NFS
contiguity.....tableau of compassion - finalist MANDORLA ART AWARD 2004 line brush figure paintings collaged on canvas. steel frame ingraved in 6 languages - Hebrew, Arabic, English, Classic German, Mandarin, latin;" Quote: "whatsoever you do for the least of them you do for me".. NFS	A SENSE OF MANKIND acrylic on ricepaper on canvas 2012 120 x 90cm ...when the centre of the heart is touched, and a sense of compassion awakened with another person or creature, and you realise that you and that other are in some sense creatures of the one life in being, a whole new stage of life in the spirit opens out. This opening of the heart to the world is what is symbolized mythologically as the virgin birth. ....the birth of a spiritual life in what was formerly an elementary human animal living for the merely physical aims...... quotation....Joseph Campbell - THE POWER OF MYTH

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