PORTRAITS
THE TAO OF I
Within each portrait lies a profound reflection of self, a mirror that unveils the essence of who we are. In the eyes and expressions of these subjects, I find echoes of my own soul, for every portrait is a self-portrait. Each figure embarks on an internal quest, a search for equilibrium by emptying the mind and embracing the serenity that births entire worlds. In darkness, the seed of transformation takes root. We journey inward so we may exist outwardly, unencumbered by clouded thoughts and restless anxieties, liberated from the pains of yesterday and the fears of tomorrow. We find solace in the effortless state of pure existence.
The Tao of I is an ever-evolving series exploring duality and the human persona. Each portrait encapsulates not only an individual soul but also the collective spirit of humanity.
The calligraphy that runs behind and inside each piece carries the writing of multiple languages and scripts. Arabic, Amharic, Chinese, and Latin characters work together as image and as text. Some passages are abstract. Others can be read. Writing is an integral part of my process. The script is part of the face.
The fine web of lines across the backgrounds is the mycelium structure, symbolic of the unity and interconnectedness of all things. The pattern makes the same argument the portraits make. Everything and everyone is connected.
I work in monochrome because I want the viewer to see form, weight, and gesture before anything else. Color is one tool. Removing it is another.
