Jehovah (2016)

Religious texts are fundamentally a representation of our long-standing beliefs as a community. The use of these texts allow us to understand our ancestors and rely on ancient beliefs to guide in into the future. In the Hebrew community, the word “Jehovah” draws immensely powerful connotations and can be traced back to the people’s attempt to create singular sound to represent the almighty creator of the universe. Virtosu has decided to utilize this powerful device in his work and attempt to represent the sentiment of the term on his canvas.

The word “Jehovah” has long been considered the holiest name of God in Hebrew texts and it is meant to be loosely translated into the expression: “I am that I am”. The word was considered to be so sacred for such a significant portion of the people’s history that it was never written or even spoken. The fact that this term can now be used to represent an abstract piece of art by a non-Jewish artist speaks volumes about the journey we have undergone in our religious sentiments, and this is the point behind offering the work such an apt title.

The pressure of creating a painting worthy of such a lofty name may be overwhelming to certain artists, but Virtosu has managed to create a piece that can be universally appreciated by individuals of all faith. The painting has a real presence to it and this is evident from the very first glace. It radiates a sense of calm and hubris, and features delicate and complimentary textures that have been created using a complex set of techniques by the artist. The overall result is a striking and distinct piece that pays tribute to our attempt to create a grounded context for our understanding of God and the ultimate creator.