For an upcoming show with Spoke Art Gallery based in SanFrancisco/Oakland, though the show will be in NY. The theme is for artists to work with the films of Martin Scorcese. My inspiration was the film "The Last Temptation of Christ". Though not a Christian, I've always been fascinated by the story of Jesus Christ. The story of the film is not a direct adaptation from the bible. Its loosely based and takes from creating an artistic expression of its own. I took from the theme of Jesus being a man of flesh and existing in that world with all of its experiences, yet hearing the voice of 'God' within, that has him drawn between the world of flesh,ego and spirit. It creates much conflict in his being and ultimately his confusion, doubt of the voice becomes one of uncompromised devotion. So the following text as written in the piece is my own storytelling as the result of re-visiting the film recently. enjoy...
"Our conflict is one of flesh and spirit. The flesh is a box that we build ourselves in, filling it in a constant pursuit of happiness. Anything that stimulates, satisfies our desires of pleasure, any material that maintains our egos. But how we realize early on that the box is bottomless, and therefore empty in its nature. Nothing ever holds, so we are never content. And this makes us so vulnerable. And from this we become afraid so our openness closes more with experience, for we know when we are happy that we will suffer eventually as the result of impermanence. So we live half willingly. Despite this we find it difficult, even impossible to break these patterns for we are weak in the temptations of the flesh and live in a world where temptation follows us like our own shadows, and this has us drift ever so further from our spirit nature. But in this cycle of suffering, there is that space that exists as a whisper that is a relief from the negative thoughts/emotions rising from the pain.. There is that voice within, inviting you within. And if you listen, this whisper will tell you that you are more than your thoughts, your emotions. That you are something deeper. And that reality is more than a cycle of desire, pleasure, happiness, suffering that comes with the flesh. Listen deeply… can you hear it? (it's the spirit)"