Macaroni Triptych

This self-portrait is based on the origin story of Taliesin, the Welsh shaman poet. I have placed myself in the position of the cinder child, Gwion tending to the Celtic Goddess, Ceridwen’s Cauldon at the moment of scalding and divine inspiration. However instead of a magical brew full of Awen or enlightenment, I am instead tending to a giant pot of macaroni. This symbolizes my journey into spirituality coming from a generally non-magical upbringing. In the right panel is Ceridwen, not as a greyhound as in the original story, but instead as a Siberian Huskey. This is the dog that bit me when I was fifteen and represents fear of the unknown. The left panel depicts Creirwy and Afaggdu, Ceridwen’s children. In the original story Creirwy is a beautiful golden girl and Afaggdu is a dark and ugly boy. Instead, I have represented them here as my childhood friends. In the foreground one friend is cast in the part of Creirwy. Although dark haired, she is calm and serene and wears white. In the background is a second friend. Although golden haired, she wears black and her side eye hints at her mischievousness. Throughout the painting are the animals from the chase rendered in a monochromatic, stylized manner. This ghostly chase is what is being conjured through spirituality and the expansion of my understanding of myself within natural world.