Allegory of the Bardo

From the studio

When I describe my work as Modern Bardo Cave Art, I mean that I imagine myself as a primitive artist, scratching symbols pulled from the subconscious onto whatever surface is in front of me. No shadows. No illusion of depth. No need to impress anyone with technical ability or chase approval. Just the freedom to make marks that feel like they need to exist, whether I understand them or not. Plato’s Allegory of the Cave explores the idea of mistaking shadows for reality. The Bardo represents the space between states of existence and perception. Somewhere between those ideas is where I find myself painting. Not necessarily trying to represent the world as it appears, but allowing something from beneath the surface to find its way onto the canvas. Maybe Plato wanted us to leave the cave to discover the truth. I’m perfectly happy wandering back inside to paint on the walls.