Curios About: Into the Light by Patricia Fitzgerald

Here’s the latest in our series on works by contemporary Dublin artists. If you’d like to see something of yours featured, you can submit it for consideration, at dublininquirer.com/curios-about.

Into the Light
By Patricia Fitzgerald
Acrylic paint and metallic pens on black paper, 42cm x 42cm

1. This work is about . . . bringing the light out of the darkness and allowing us to see through geometry the interconnectedness of all things. From the microscopic to the macroscopic, geometric patterns are found in all of nature and even in what we think of as empty space. Plato hung a sign over the door of his school of philosophy “Let no man enter here who does not have a knowledge of geometry.” This work is about seeing ourselves from higher perspective than we normally allow ourselves to contemplate.

2. I made this work because . . . it connects me to something much bigger than myself, to something universal and truthful. In geometry, unlike with words, there are no lies. Only truth. Engaging in this practice, which is entirely intuitive in that I have no expected outcome or destination when I begin a piece, allows me to be fully present in the moment. To allow moments to just unfold. Easily. Effortlessly. And in doing so, larger perspectives become apparent and a profound peacefulness and acceptance ensues.

3. I hope when people see this work they will . . . pause and take stock of their important place in this infinite universe, and realize their connection to themselves and to others and in turn to something much much bigger than themselves. I hope they will breathe and allow themselves just to be with it, if only for a moment. For that is all we have. A series of beautiful moments.

4. In terms of art history, this work . . . From the classical Indian language of Sanskrit, the word “mandala” can be loosely translated to mean circle. But the mandala is far more than just a simple shape. It embodies wholeness, representing the structure of life itself, a cosmic diagram that shows us our relatedness to the infinite. Mandalas can be found in almost all cultures, from Tibetan Buddhism to Islam to Hinduism to Christianity to esotericism and everything in between. It is a centuries-old practice that continues to this day.

5. You can see my work . . . on my website, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Curios [sic] About is a series featuring works by Dublin artists, curated for us by our friends at the Square in the Circle blog, and hosted there as well as here.

Each artist is asked to submit an image of one work and answer a set of questions about it. We’d love it if you’d submit something you’ve made.