Jennifer Murphy

Exegesis

30" x 15" x 10"

folded, burnt and collaged paper, wire, wooden shelf

The paper used to create the flowers and the collage in this installation are actual pages from the Bible, the Torah and the Quoran, the holy books of the main parties involved in the crisis. By tearing these holy books up, partially burning them, then mixing the texts together in this form I hope to convey the need to breakdown and transform rigid religious dogma. Through the catalysts of fire and creativity the actual words, so often used to justify violence, become almost abstract patterns. To interpret them (exegesis) is now a matter of unauthorized intuition. I believe peace can grow out of such intuition.

I made the piece in October 2001 for an exhibit called "Peace by Piece" at Gallery Figueroa in Los Angeles. A photograph of the piece has also been shown in New York, at the ExitArt show "Reactions", near Ground Zero.