How Close

1986

Acrylic on Canvas

102cm x 61.5m

Some form of the vulva is to be found in all world religions, either as a primitive rock carving, devotional image or ritual object. In Egyptian hieroglyphs it symbolized woman and the Hindu symbol of the ‘yoni‘ symbolized the goddess of all creation. In Christian Europe the sexual carvings on medieval churches of the Sheela-na-gig displaying her genitalia are common. ‘How Close’ is a painting inspired by these powerful images.