'Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you..'
Isaiah 60
Like so many, I consider myself more spiritual than religious. I understand that describing oneself as 'spiritual' has become a bit of a cliché, but it also perfectly fits. Self-described spirituals do believe, in something, and are often led by incredibly strong faith. We bristle however, at being associated with the history, the violence, discrimination and atrocities executed in the name of religion.
That being said, my religious foundation was firmly planted when I was a kid. I've written before about my religious past and it's impact on how I live my life today. I have however, become a bit a bit of an Christmas and Easter church goer, even less since the start of the pandemic. That being said, Good Friday, more than Christmas, or any other day of the year, has me connecting to my religious roots.
Good Friday is one of the quietest days of the year. It's not about bunnies or chocolate, it's the remembrance of the darkness that always occurs before the light. Over the past few years I have been fortunate to commemorate Good Friday with the work photographer Jan Deuzeman. It began after discovering Jan's work with Bas in 2020. (HERE:) This was followed by Jan's work with Rene (HERE:) last year.
One of the things I find most compelling about Jan's Easter themed imagery is it's completeness. Jan's images cover a breadth of emotions. Jan understands that the celebration of resurrection is not complete without acknowledging the pain and anguish which precede it.
This year, Jan again graciously shared his Easter themed imagery. This year more than others, the messages of Easter seems both urgent and needed. The pandemic is still killing thousands of people a day, and leaders are asking us to make wise decisions in order to protect the lives of others. Many are taking this heart, many others however, continue to struggle to think beyond themselves.
Coming together to support one other is a theme many embrace on a daily basis. Others, latch on during difficult times, including this year with Covid, and the daily horrors occurring in Ukraine. This led to Jan to take take a more personal approach this year. In addition to sharing his work with Peter and Scott, Jan also stepped in front of the camera to help convey the message he wished to share.
This year i wanted to do a self-portrait, to express my feeling about all the troubles in the world, the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. The images strive to show that not all sins can be borne by one person, but that the whole world has to deal with this. The portrait with the white peony, a piece of hope for a better future.'
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