Completed November 2010.
9"x12"; pen&ink on vellum.

This is about being deaf.

I chose to portray a conch shell as the symbol of everything that I cannot hear for multiple reasons. It's a complex shape, easily recognizable even in silhouette; with its combination of smooth curves and ragged bumps, it offers interest to touch as well as sight. The sound of the ocean when you put it to your ear is something I've never been able to hear. Finally, the shell is a frequent metaphor for the shape of the human ear.

The background represents the cacophony of modern life. A multitude of hidden images and symbols (27 of them, 3^3), stitched together by meaningless scribbles and patterns, makes it impossible to focus on any one thing or even find a coherent meaning amidst the constant noise. A pale wash of various clashing colors punctuates the contrast between the dizzying outside world and the elegant, calm simplicity of the shell. But with the eyes averted and covered - when I take my hearing aids off - the noise subsides, replaced by a soothing, cushioning silence.

Read my blog post about this piece.

Original is for sale. Contact the artist for more information.