Moth, revisited

Moth as Christ, Christ as Moth

Though I shall work a little more on these pieces, I shall probably not paint them instead leaving them in a less defined state.

"Moth" is a recurring theme for me: I attempted to tackle the theme in monotype two years ago but was not satisfied with the results, then more recently visited it with paper cutouts. The results with the cutouts were nice, but they did not convey the utter horror that these creatures bring me, they were much too cartoonish. This time I intend to combine the moths with other items to make a grand, gothic tableau.

I have picked up from somewhere the idea that moths are Christ symbols: but there seems little evidence to support this as a traditional iconography. I found this, however: http://truthmarche.wordpress.com/2010/02/09/blinded-by-the-light-the-parable-of-the-moth/

I quote:

"Are we, like the huge Cecropia moth, blundering on in the darkness, oblivious to the universe which is all around us? Are we ignorant to the realities that present themselves in our everyday lives, simply because we aren’t really paying attention to what is going on around us? "

There is also, of course, Thomas Harris's magnificent "The Silence of the Lambs" (one of the cases where the film is greater than the book) where the moth is seen as a symbol of transformation through life, and between sexual conditions. These notions have a pagan ring to me, bringing to mind the Green Man, so beautifully represented in Rosslyn Chapel, Penicuik, near Edinburgh.

Betty's Cat

What splendid, aristocratic beasts: I'm not in the least surprised the Egyptians worshipped them.

Indeed, what is more astonishing is that these fine creatures haven't been adopted by other religions. I suppose the cat is too independent, too elegant and too self- contained a beast to satisfy Christians, who instead went for the lamb as a symbol. I understand why: it is because Christians believe, or hope "the meek shall inherit the earth", and those little white lambs seem so well to convey that quality, existing just to be turned into cutlets by Welshmen.

Myself, I'd rather live under the jurisdiction of cats (not that it's likely they'd want the administrative bother!). I've never seen much virtue in meekness, a mousey quality at best.