THE ESSENCE TO BEING 2

These pieces are about women, whom through history have always been attacked on the basis of conditions prevailing in society. The women in my paintings, vulnerable to such assaults, are married by this violence. But these scars are deeper than the skin. Darkness, through this mutilation, corrupts the their clarity and purity, decaying the spirit and body. Their souls are destroyed, gradually melting – they can neither see, nor be seen. Speaking, becomes punishing. Uncaring, we remained silent. Words catch in our throat, even when faced with their visages. We see our own inadequacy, and the results of our inaction. Their faces protest, their silence speaks. Suddenly, we realize we are a part of this tragedy. We feel this pain, this objection, this gross injustice. For, they want to be seen and to be heard – that is the essence to being.