Obstacles+to+Enlightenment

=Obstacles to Enlightenment by Sarah Malick= =Literary Artist Statement= “In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in a clearer light, and what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into crystal clearness. Our life is a long and arduous quest after Truth.” This statement by Mahatma Gandhi reflects the theme of this piece of art. Each individual’s purpose in life is to reach enlightenment through truth. __Obstacles to Enlightenment__ reflects the struggle against tyranny and mind control that each individual must overcome in order to attain enlightenment.

An obstacle is something that impedes progress or achievement. In this case, the obstacles are getting in the way of enlightenment, or the state of being freed from ignorance and misinformation. The little toy soldier represents each individual’s hero journey to reach the boon of peace and knowledge. He must battle tyranny and mind control to finally unlock the knowledge.

Tyranny, the arbitrary or unrestrained exercise of power, is represented by the witch’s finger, the dinosaur, and the chess piece king. The green witch’s finger alludes to the Wizard of Oz of Emerald City. He used his veil of magic to abuse and demand anything of the citizens of Oz. Also, the Wicked Witch of the West used her magic to force the munchkins to obey her out of fear of what she could do to them. The dinosaur represents tyranny because he is blocking the path of the soldier for no reason. He is an obstacle and represents the trial a hero must overcome on his journey to attain the boon. The Chess Piece King represents tyranny for he dominates the chess board. The key to winning rests in his capture. Unless the king is captured, the game and the rules surrounding it continue.

The playing card, the imitation cigarette box, and the lock symbolize mind control. Addictions such as gambling and smoking show mind control because the brain is unable to think clearly when concerned with how to get the next fix for the addiction. The lock represents the actual mind. Each person’s mind is controlled by the paradigms surrounding it concerned with the circumstances in which the mind evolved. Once those paradigms are broken or there is a paradigm shift, the mind is free from ignorance and misinformation. The result is enlightenment.

Enlightenment itself is represented by the tea light and the cross with peace written on it. The tea light symbolizes enlightenment because light and illumination often are associated with rebirth and knowledge. Peace is given when one is freed from the bondage of ignorance. One is able to accept the circumstances and come to terms with them. Such was true in the story of Oedipus. Once he realized that he had killed his father and “been with” his mother, he accepted his curse and went to live alone in the woods. He ultimately achieved peace after having been given knowledge.

This work is made of items I found around my house. The central item in the work was the lock. To me, it represented opening the mind and freeing oneself from chains. It was then that I decided to use the idea of enlightenment and what impedes it.