Faculty of Art

Drawing and Painting

Chris Canales-Cisneros

03 The Family Gossip: Stages of Rectification (2/3)

"Ascension " Part two of the triptych

“The center panel is titled "Ascension," in which the figure feels repressed by the bandages used in the practice of chest binding and attempts to break free from them. With the appropriation of the tryptic format on hinges evoking the spiritual undertones of European Christian artwork, I did not want the figurative aspects to contain blatant references to Christ. The poses traditionally used in portrayals of the ascension of Christ are theatrical/dramatic, thus not easily mistaken for a casual movement. In the case of the center panel the figure raising their arm is excused by the tightly bound bandages restricting their movement, the only blatant node to Christ being the hand gesture used in the upper right quadrant of the composition it is a gesture used throughout art history to represent duality. Biblically, it references the duality of Christ being human and divine. For this work, it represents the duality of gender, portraying a traditional female nude while having the desire to be perceived as male, or the duality of being prideful of ones culture and upbringing while resenting the ideals it perpetuated. The work functions through its use of symbolism appropriated from the very institution it is trying to critique. The gestures and postures depicted are coded to be recognised by those familiar with Christian iconography. Even through their cyclical-based methodologies; Catholicism implements the burning of celebratory palms of palm Sunday for ashes to mark the repentance of sin on ash Wednesday. The Family Gossip emulated this redundant process by burning what is arguably a depiction of the sin of others to create a redemptive narrative of queer identity. ”