The "Dark Works" began as a free form exploration of the political power struggles and smothering consequences of an embattled relationship. I developed the figures that populate these works to represent the gut level feelings associated with such emotional turmoil. They exist within a sexual landscape of sadomasochism and bondage . However, I did not intend to portray such practices as realistic images but rather to use them as metaphors of psychological pain, suffocation and restrictions beyond that of the obvious sexual situations.

I feel the issues of dominance and repression, both real and self imposed, manifest themselves in all forms of love: friendship, paternal, religious, what have you. As an extension I have used the traditional Judeo-Christian idea of ultimate love and the sacrifice Christ made for it as central to or peripheral to these issues. I feel the religious imagery to be representative of total devotion and the sacred side of love as balance to the darker, more destructive side.

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