Home | Thesis Research
Seed, Tree, Forest: An Exploration of Prophetic Art
The plight of the royal consciousness leads societies to states of increasingly fragmented existences where the spiritual is separated from the physical. Prophetic art energizes stagnant cultures by recombining the spiritual with the physical through a process of divine revelation, patterned construction, and reciprocated spiritual visitation.
Within stagnant cultures, power structures eventually exist solely for their own benefit, abusing the authority they possess. The self-maintaining mentality seeks to erase all contrary voices, causing an eradication of cultural narratives. Spirituality loses prominence, as stories no longer contain mystical elements. Eventually, individuals will succumb to the message of those in power, deny their own pain, and resign themselves to lives lacking vision. Spirituality becomes completely separated from daily life and people become mere shadows of their true selves.
Lamentation, however, gives voice to deep inner pain and calls out for an alternative existence. God responds intimately to individuals with prophetic revelation. This revelation causes the recipient to awaken to the possibility of a realized alternative existence. People see again the beauty of existence, the dignity of individuals, and move prophetically towards action. The heavenly realm so enthralls the prophetic artist that they deeply desire to transform the physical. The prophetic artist gains a noble, compassionate outlook on reality, desiring to speak to the pain and numbness and bring life once again. Prophetic art gives visual expression to the unseen reality, allowing the spiritual realm to invade the physical. The work becomes a doorway, allowing people to experience the spiritual in their daily lives.
The construction of spiritually fecund art lies in obedience. The artist must be willing to listen to a work and immediately act upon revelation. Every physical act gains spiritual significance, contrary to the occidental mode of thinking which separates the spiritual and physical realms. Faith constitutes the prophet’s primary material, as he sets about transforming the physical realm to align with the unseen spiritual reality. The work not only symbolizes a reality, but also incarnates the alternative reality. Sacraments allow discipline to transform revelation into a dedicated and consistent force of spiritual growth. Narratives allow individuals to see how the divine can be part of their own lives. Eventually, spiritual dwellings are established allowing for a continual two-way communication between the Spirit and the prophet.
The culmination of this spiritual activity on the part of the artist-prophet is a reciprocal visitation from God Himself. Spirituality takes on an objective form as the Holy Spirit affects the physical more and more. Spiritual transformation accelerates as individuals ascend higher into spiritual understanding. Forms then take on a more powerful voice as individuals partake directly in divine council. Finally, the forms become internalized in the most positive sense and people truly become the dwellings of God.
Web Links
Current Draft
Journal
Literary References
Past Forest Works
Genetic Art History Paper
Schedule
How can trees be created outside of static mathematical models?
How can prodcedural animation be used inside an interactive installation?
What role does wrapping play in various cultures?
In literature, how are forests central to the transformation of characters?
How is the forest connected with birthing and burial ceremonies?
Artistic Influence :
Andy Goldsworthy, Magdelina Abakanowitz, Jane Prophet, Karl Sims, Patric Dougherty, Joseph Beuys
Key Words:
Procedural Animation, Genetic Art, Artificial Life, Immersive Narrative, Ritual Art, Virtual Storytelling, Romanticism