10 June 2026

The primal form brings us into an unimaginable intimacy with God (Balthazar). An aesthetic theology. An aesthetic that has the ability to see the glory of God, to see beauty. More than just the senses. More than just the sensory data. The more than matter that radiates from from the object. These paintings of flowers seem more like animals to me, or beasts. Prophecy is full of beasts. You probably already know this, but prophecy is not divination, and not telling the future, or not only telling the future. It is bringing the word of God into a form that can become known to us. Through the process of contemplating these paintings I have come to know these Cape flowers as beasts and guardians. I think it has helped me to cut through the shit. Helped to see what is important. At the very least, I have had fun painting and contemplating them. Weird, terrifying, desperate; but also comforting and beautiful. Death destruction and mayhem. On the surface, but an innocent flower. I am hoping the claws make someone look twice. 'Hang on a second ... What are those claws doing there?'