image: 'Shaman' © Matt Pipes

TOTEMS

Matt Pipes

"Animism and shamanistic beliefs are a common thread in much of my work. The genesis of these works was inspired by “Afterlife,” an art project sponsored by Visual Aid, in which artists were asked to present their views on death and dying. I chose the raven because of its symbolism in shamanistic cultures where it is considered to be the carrier of the soul. In this series, the raven becomes merged with a figure who, in turn, finds in the raven a catalyst to go from a place of unfulfilled desire to a place of acceptance and peace. Ultimately, the raven becomes a powerful symbol of growth and change.

I think of the whole series as a meditation on change. As I think about the imagery, I begin to see the raven as a metaphor for transformation in my own life as well as an agent for dealing with loss. " ~ Matt Pipes

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