The
1990's Wing of the Gallery at www.GerardPas.com represents a period of
profound introspection leading to a time of recluse for Gerard. The decade
begins with Gerard attempting to apply the idealistic theories of Neo-Plasticism,
Suprematism and Constructivism to the human form. It ends with him despairing
the human condition and bitter disillusionment in his search of the 'pure
form'. The earlier investigations which led him to present problematical
situations corresponding directly to one's cognition of reality, and reality's
often relative perception, continue to motivate his work. The result:
Thesis versus Antithesis brings forth Synthesis. In the ethereal, Gerard
contemplates "Was Hegel right in his dialectical criticism of truth?"
His realization of the temporal reality of Beauty and the subsequent cracks,
which appear in any ideology, confuse and bring on a period of deep
depression. His work at the start of the decade, begin with an attempt
to redeem the human form and lose his own shame with his own broken body:
a celebration of the ideals which have motivated so many figure painters.
During this period Gerard also becomes disenchanted with organized religion.
After spending some 6 years teaching at a parochial University he comes
to see that organized religion has somehow lost site of the goal of human
spirituality and instead elected to champion prevailing and often relative
forms of cultural morality. This only fuels his desire to recluse himself
and further fuels his already spiralling depression. The result: the decade
ends with a return to dark images of the broken body and despair in our
common destiny as mortals. Like Apollo, Gerard chases' after Daphne (beauty),
only to end up feeling like Sisyphus. Sisyphus' eternal plight, being
that of rolling the rock to the top of the mountain only to watch it roll
down the other side and thus be forced to roll it up again in perpetuity.
Nevertheless, true spirituality if real cannot be hidden and continues
to take its effect. At the close of the nineties, after returning to New
York City, Gerard's work starts to develop a more cathartic and deeper
understanding of the human condition. These dark times and subsequent
works illuminate a paradigm shift in Gerard's development and announce
a profound and provocative understanding of the human dilemma, as seen
in his works which culminate at the end of the century with the series
entitled "The Saints". These then become the inspirations and
muse behind the works in this decade of the gallery. |
