An exhibit about initiation, where life is put to question, all beliefs, personas, ideals, livelihood, relationships, and raison d’être. The process of individuation is about letting go of old ways. The oracles are a kind of map, guiding between the inner and outer worlds.
My travels in Mali, West Africa came to an end with the 2012 coup and takeover of the northern region. At the same time, a major highway was being built through my home village and I felt I had come to a crossroad.
The paintings are oracles, inspired by the Tarot playing cards from 14th-century Italy, that were later used for divination.
“Divination is applied symbolism which stands or falls on the dependability of what Carl Jung called synchronicity, a pattern of related chances and meaningful coincidences. Listening to the voice of Nature.” ( A Dictionary of Symbols, Tom Chetwynd, HarperCollins Publishers, 1998)
There are 78 cards in the Tarot deck, 22 Major Arcana, or trump cards and 56 Minor Arcana divided into 4 suits.
Pentacles or Diamonds: Earth, childhood, sensation
Wands or Clubs: Fire, youth, thinking function
Cups or Hearts: Water, manhood/womanhood, feeling function
Swords or Spades: Air, old age, intuition
The Fool is the most powerful card in the deck and represents 0: the unknown and limitless potential. Carpe Diem.
The Magpie in archery is missing the mark and making one’s way inward.
Mirror: 2012/2021
From dark to light.
- “The Fool” (Magpie), oil pastel on mounted cardboard, 12 x 25″, Erika Connor 2012 (Sold)
- “Judgement”, oil pastel on mounted cardboard, 16 x 16″, Erika Connor 2012
- “Justice”, oil pastel on mounted cardboard, 14 x 25″, Erika Connor 2012
- “The Three of Pentacles”, oil pastel on mounted cardboard, 16 x 18.5″, Erika Connor 2012
- “The Four of Swords”, oil pastel on mounted canvas, 14 x 22″, Erika Connor 2012
- “The Emperor”, acrylic on Masonite, 18 x 24″, Erika Connor 2012
- “The Chariot”, oil pastel on mounted cardboard, 18 x 20″, Erika Connor 2012
- “Narcissus”, oil pastel on mounted cardboard, 18 x 25″, Erika Connor 2012
- “Ace of Swords”, oil pastel on mounted cardboard, 10 x 14″, Erika Connor 2012 (Sold)
- “The 9 of Wands (The Trans-Saharan Counter Terrorism Coalition), 18.5 x 19”, oil pastel on mounted cardboard, Erika Connor 2012 (Sold)
- “The Knight of Pentacles” (For Love and Honour), oil pastel on mounted cardboard, 17 x 17.5″, Erika Connor 2012
- “The Knight of Wands”, oil pastel on Masonite, 10 x 14″, Erika Connor 2012
- “The Lovers”, oil pastel on Masonite, 12 x 16″, Erika Connor 2012 (Sold)
- “The Magician”, oil pastel on masonite, 14 x 17″, Erika Connor 2012 (Sold)
- “The Moon”, oil pastel on mounted canvas, 17 x 29″, Erika Connor 2012 (Sold)
- “The Queen of Cups “, oil pastel on mounted cardboard, 11.5 x 14”, Erika Connor 2012
- “The Star”, oil pastel on mounted cardboard, 18.5 x 18.25″, Erika Connor 2012 (Sold)
- “The Sun” (The Fennec), oil pastel on mounted canvas, 15 x 26″, Erika Connor 2012 (Sold)
- “The Tower”, oil pastel on mounted canvas, 17 x 30″, Erika Connor 2012
- “The Hierophant”, oil pastel on mounted cardboard, 14 x 16″, Erika Connor 2012 (Sold)
- “The 6 of Cups”, oil pastel on mounted cardboard, 13 x 16.5″, Erika Connor 2012
- “The 2 of Wands”, oil pastel on mounted cardboard, 22 x 23.5″, Erika Connor 2012
- “Death” (The White Rabbit), oil pastel on mounted cardboard, 10 x 33″, Erika Connor 2012
- “The Empress”, oil pastel on mounted canvas, 20 x 26″, Erika Connor 2012 (Sold)
- “Temperance”, oils & oil pastel on mounted cardboard, 20 x 28″, Erika Connor 2012
- “The Hanged Man”, acrylic & oil pastel on Masonite, 12 x 18″, Erika Connor 2012
- “The Ace of Wands”, acrylic & found-objects, 12 x 14 x 2″, Erika Connor 2012
- “The Coming of Azawad”, 12 x 14 x 2″, Erika Connor 2012
- “The Hermit”, oil pastel on mounted cardboard, 8 x 11″, Erika Connor 2012 (Sold)
- “The High Priestess”, oil pastel on mounted canvas, 14 x 17″, Erika Connor 2012 (Sold)
- “The Trojan Horse”, clay & found-objects, 4 x 3 x 2″, Erika Connor 2012
- “The Wheel of Fortune” (Kubota), oil pastel on mounted cardboard, 9 x 10″, Erika Connor 2012
- “The World”, oil pastel on mounted cardboard, 14 x 21″, Erika Connor 2012