I Saw All the Eyes Seeing

When we gaze into the eyes of someone, we see them and they see us. Eyes can look back at us with doubt or confusion or understanding or recognition. Through the eyes, we are reflected in the another: we reveal ourselves and are revealed simultaneously.

While creating the works for this exhibition, my mind turned to St. Lucy, a 2nd Century Roman Christian whose eyes were gouged out prior to being executed for holding fast to her sacred vows by refusing to marry. She was later venerated and is often depicted holding her own eyes on a plate or delicately set on the stem of a flower. I wonder what these disembodied eyes see from their new vantage point? Questions like this led me to experiment with concepts and memories related to St. Lucy’s story and Catholic symbols in my art process.

Experiment gives space to reflect and create fresh things from what is familiar. I was raised Catholic and I remember feelings of being scrutinized, shamed, protected and cherished. Feelings which, in my work, intermingle with the stories and iconography of saints, martyrs, animals, and the natural world — as I see them.

Our eyes seek and avoid, admire and condemn, see and are seen. “I Saw All the Eyes Seeing” is a misremembered quote from Jorge Luis Borges’ story The Aleph. It became the title for this show, not only because of the link to the eyes, but also because of the misremembering — a little gap where the space between the word, the artwork, and what is seen and remembered makes itself known.

The artist would like to acknowledge the support of Ontario Arts Council.