Stations Of The Cross (VIII) feat. The Maggot Of Destiny : 'And He Wandereth Without Aim Or Passion' Painting

The eighth image in my version of Stations of The Cross refers to the biblical story of Christ going out into the wilderness alone to face his demons (in symbolic terms, the Devil). This is not usually portrayed in the christian Stations of The Cross, but in my version I like to think of the stations perhaps depicting Christ`s internal world - memories and reflections on his past, as he heads towards his inevitable end. Here, Christ is wandering in the desert, and wherever he walks the images of demons and wild creatures of the forest appear, paving the way - symbolising his inability to escape those darker parts of himself - and Satan is his shadow. Interestingly, as I painted these demonic faces I was aware of them becoming more and more akin to the image of the 'green man' - a symbol of man's deeper connection with Nature and his primitive erotic self. It got me thinking about Blake's view that Satan was not evil at all - just a christian symbol of oppressed sexual and erotic energy. However, these images came from remembering the many depictions of the torment of Saint Anthony in so many Renaissance paintings. The giant maggot appeared later in the painting. At first I was unsure as to its place there, but on reflection I realised that the maggot is, on the one hand, a symbol of decay, but on the other, a signifier of life springing from death - a symbol of resurrection and transformation. Although currently not for sale, this painting will be available once the series is finished.

Painting:Oil on Canvas

Original:One-of-a-kind Artwork

Size:11.8 W x 11.8 H x 2 D in

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