The Space Within Us is based on a series of dreams that I've had; see the explanation of those here. Differing from You Are The Key in focus, I based this piece on the concept of separation and the tension caused by being "almost there"; the feeling of being so close, but so far away at the same time. In this piece I am exploring relationships and the explored unknown; the anxiety of knowing someone so well and still knowing nothing. Similar to Key's Key and Keyhole, the relationship is the important part. The pieces are both, meaningless alone & stronger together and fierce, deep and independent.
The imagery in the piece is deeply rooted in and inspired by Tarot, specifically The Lovers and The Moon cards.
The Lovers card represents relationship and choices made for, against or in spite of them. It usually indicates that a decision about an existing relationship needs to be made, the choice of partner and/or temptation of the heart. Going back to my want to express the tension of the unknown in a relationship, I created two profiles on each panel, filling each with Space (the great mystery, infinite and immeasurable, cold and unexplored) and the Zodiac Constellations (endless, timeless and connecting).
The Moon card, when upright, often means fear and illusions projected onto one's present and future because of one's past experiences. Inversely, one's negative influences are subsiding and anxiety is being worked through. Universally, the moon is also symbolic of the rhythm of time and magnetic attraction. The phases of the moon represent the life cycle, forever changing; immortal.
For this piece, I chose to use two panels so that there is literal space between the pieces when hung. I knew I wanted the moon to be centered, half on one panel and half on the other. I made a template of a profile so that the faces would be identical on each panel, but face opposite. Along the bottom, I choose to draw and later embroider flowers. Flowers, like relationships, are beautiful, fragile and require specific and delicate attention.
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