Image of the Week: Coexistence
© Durga Yael Bernhard
Today seems like a good day to post an image of tolerance. The same was true five or six years ago when I was commissioned to do this illustration for a Christian publisher. The image called for the unity of all people under God's heaven.
There are many ways to depict cultural and religious diversity. In this instance, I tried to build a patchwork whole from the architecture and symbols of the major belief systems of the world. While a picture can't solve the world's problems, imagining peace is a start. A palette of sunset colors seemed appropriately calm and soothing for these churches, mosques, synagogues and cathedrals – all composed of transparent, overlapping shapes. These buildings symbolize the constructs of tradition. They don't just exist side by side – they are interconnected, and together form a quilt of colors and shapes crowned by soft clouds – and two cherubim (plural for the Hebrew word cherub, meaning "one who blesses") – those mythical winged creatures that hail from the three Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Cherubim are also associated with the Greek god Cupid. They are angels who serve as messengers, guardians, or transporters of sacred objects.
The final element that binds these traditions together is simply one universal person – a featureless silhouette representing unity consciousness. This person cuts across the whole picture plane, blending into every house of worship. This person is anyone and everyone – human and mortal, or transcendent and divine, the One God that is behind all Creation.
I wish those angels of God would come a little closer to earth, and open our eyes.
You can buy a greeting card of Coexistence here.
A good week to all!
D Yael Bernhard