Jealousy of Shu

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut bibendum tortor sit amet ligula rutrum, at porta tortor convallis ...

This piece, titled Jealousy of Shu is a two-dimensional narrative inspired by Egyptian mythology and ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic story-telling styles. The Egyptians believed in many gods, so too their story of creation of the Earth was personified and told as if each element, the earth, the air and the sky are all gods and goddesses. Although there are many variations of this myth, my painting follows a narrative like this:

Nut is the Goddess of the sky; daughter of Shu, who is the God of air, and wife to Geb; the earth God. Nut and Geb were passionate lovers. It is believed that at one time, they embraced so tightly that nothing could come between them. Shu became jealous and separated the two so they could only touch by the tips of their hands and the soles of their feet. Shu became the Air that moves between the Sky and the Earth. The separation came too late, and Nut was pregnant. She was the mother to all of the stars and planets, including our sun, Ra. She was then on responsible for day and night. Each morning she would give birth to the son, and each evening, she would swallow him back up.

The vibrant colours and grotesque surreal style create a contemporary twist that is informed by my personal style, with the intention that it can be reinterpreted by viewers in many ways that still hold truth in modern day. This story of love and jealousy is timeless and universal, with many variations existing in modern love stories and in our individual lived experiences.

Where it's been: Myths & Legends, Ada Slaight Gallery, OCAD University, Toronto, ON On view from May 28th-June 10th