THE MOON MADE ME DO IT Painting

This primal portrait represents the sexual angst of the biblical Eve. Originally, the inspiration was from my friend who desperately yearns for sexual liberation but is chained to a lackluster marriage. She modeled for me with the caveat that her identity would be disguised. Using a neo-expressionist attitude, and playing off Munch’s Scream, I morphed her identity with Eve’s to protect her from her husband but also to express the ultimate symbol of human consciousness. This Eve is breaking a biblical commandment – adultery. To me, she represents the bullshit of attributing cause to environmental factors. That is such a cop-out. It is her genetics that dictate all the shit she does – not the moon or a serpent. Can you think of something you do that is not a cause of your genetics? This Eve says she is just like her mother who at her age had an insatiable desire for sex. And just like her mother, she could not resist the powerful urge for sex when she was menstruating and a full moon was present. There was no way out for her. She had to cheat on her husband, who she loves very much, but who cannot satisfy her. The power of her biology (her genetics) fuel her behaviors. In this work, I show her agonizing over her marital fidelity/conventions. I see her wrestling for a justification of her actions. She cannot resist taking the “forbidden fruit” which causes her both pain and pleasure. Similarly, the rough, abstract sensuality of the paint applied here stems from my resistance to artistic conventions/commandments. I’m fusing symbolism, gestural painting and ideology to impart knowledge to the world. Creating Art about Genetic Essentialism or Genetic Determinism causes me both pleasure and pain as well. It is my genetics that propels me to expose a raw vision of humanity through art. I just can’t help myself. You see, Eve’s story reinforces my belief in the primacy of genetics have in determining the life we lead. I don’t believe her behavior was learned. She didn’t watch her mother and decide she wants to do the same things. She inherited these traits. It took me 18 months to complete the work. When I showed it to Eve, she saw herself in every paint-stroke - struggling to come to grips with the genesis her sexuality.

Painting:Acrylic on Wood

Original:One-of-a-kind Artwork

Size:65 W x 53 H x 2 D in

Delivery Time:Typically 5-7 business days for domestic shipments, 10-14 business days for international shipments.