this is a painting that i did for a big group exhibition to the themes of discrimination, racisim, etc in 2004- it was initiated by friends and artist collegues of an African man that was killed by the Police in our city park in Vienna. His unjust death spured quite a bit of attention from right-wing groups and politicians, as well as many liberal/ left wingers- as the topic of immigration is an ever rising issue.. I choose to try and go deeper beyond these surface issues, and tried to look for the source of discrimination, and some of the answers that i came too are in this painting. The center is the Spiritual Child in each of us... and this child is crying.
i wrote something for this painting a while back - here it is:


‘HOPE’
acrylic, plaka and oil on canvas, 2004

The world’s history of persecution and racial discrimination is proof that we have not learned our lesson yet. Once again, a man has been sacrificed for our continual ignorance as a race - another symbol and chance for us to wake up.

When looking through the eyes of a child, there is no judgment. Only through successful programming does that child close her eyes and become numb. The innocence and beauty in the world is at mercy to the ruthlessness of material consciousness. It is necessary to mourn what has been taken from us, and to carry forth with courage and strength to regain the freedom that is every living creature’s birthright; to clean water, free media, fair trade, love and of course the natural tendency to laugh, sing, dance, paint and play.

I believe the child within has much wisdom and we must listen to her more often. She will guide us in the things that matter most. Although, she will abandon us when we neglect her… and she will learn to be silent. In introducing the child to the adult a great harmony may occur. If they work together with honor and respect our world would not suffer so much. So many have the memory of a traumatized childhood, a result of the cruelty that has been passed down through generations - inflicted on the weak and defenseless. This creating a pattern that like a virus is continued until one player decides to stop playing the game – until one decides that the trauma and fear is no longer useful and is only something being passed down through a dis-eased part of our consciousness.

Each day our freedom is skillfully taken away through slow manipulation of the truth… we are being messed with at a core level – our senses being dulled and support for the ultimate potential of the human spirit is falling through the cracks… Emotions have been diluted, questions confused with answers. The right for freedom - mistaken for security - and the belief in our governments is too strong. To adequately develop a counterpart we have to go back to the roots and nourish our innocence. – closing our eyes and submitting ourselves to the lie will only continue feeding the system.