El Rio Collage

‘El Roi’ To coincide with the 400th anniversary of the King James translation of the Bible, Southwark Cathedral is inviting artists to translate themes from the biblical stories of Abraham, Hagar and Sarah into contemporary culture. The Lancelot Andrewes Awards challenge today¹s artists and photographers to take up his mantle by translating stories from Genesis into today’s visual media, which can be found in Genesis chapters 11-25. Forms of artwork that may be submitted include: painting, drawing, printmaking, textile arts and photography. My entry was chosen to be exhibited and was Highly Commended On reading the text (Genesis 16-7:16) I was struck by the similarity of the choice that my subject Alain Kimolo Kikeni had to make with that of Hagar when God told her to return and place herself back in servitude to Sara. Hence the name of the picture: “El Roi”. Alain is a man of faith who fell fowl of his own government through expressing his views that people should be able to have the freedom to choose their government through the democratic process. Unfortunately the Democratic Government of the Congo (D.R.C.) have a different idea on democracy to the western world. My connection to Alain is through a friend who was trying to help him at the time that his right to stay in the UK was rescinded. I was asked along with a number of other people to pray for him and his situation. However, he was returned and I never really thought much more about it until I saw the Lancelot Andrews Awards. I read the brief and Genesis 11-25 and Alain came to mind immediately. There is a wealth of subject matter that one could use for this project, especially within the London boroughs. Nevertheless, as I am studying portraiture in my retirement it seemed a good opportunity to marry a portrait and a story together. I asked my friend if she could ask Alain for permission to research his story and to supply a photograph. The more I read the papers on his case the more similarities between their stories emerged. How to depict this in an artistic way? I chose to create my own symbolism of a man trying to break through the bounds of bureaucracy. Newsprint represents the prejudice and intolerance that the many various attitudes and agendas of our disparate society foster. Alain is depicted as bursting through this but not quite succeeding. The notes that are strewn on the newsprint are actual copies of original documents. They are accompanied by red ribbon which signifies the legalistic approach which we take towards such matters. ‘El Roi’ means God of vision, when we are confronted with seemingly impossible odd do we call out for help? Hagar was told what she must do and I feel Alain’s story in many ways echo’s , Hagar’s story.

Collage:Decoupage on Canvas

Original:One-of-a-kind Artwork

Size:24 W x 36 H x 1 D in

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