Meditation 2014

Joseph Pace created this intriguing piece, titled 'Meditation,' of mixed media of about 35 by 48 cm. The profusion of pearls, gold chains, and trinkets coalesces into the profile of a human head, immediately recalling ancient traditions of adorning sacred figures with precious materials to imbue them with power. The use of jewelry is particularly resonant. Pearls, often associated with purity and tears, appear in various forms, reminiscent of rosaries. The chains evoke connections, bondage, but also strength and continuity. The overall effect is one of opulence, yet also of constraint. Consider the bejeweled reliquaries of the Middle Ages, where the remains of saints were encased in gold and precious stones. These objects were not merely decorative; they were believed to possess a spiritual power. Pace's 'Meditation' taps into this primal human desire to sanctify and elevate the mundane through adornment, engaging our collective memory and subconscious associations with wealth, spirituality, and mortality. It is a powerful convergence of cultural symbols, reminding us of the cyclical nature of human expression.