Provenance:
Vinyl on Vinyl

ABOUT THE WORK

Iyan de Jesus’ Origins In portrays a representation of Eve and the Apple at the apex of beauty and perfection, the prime of life. Inspired by biblical and mythical genesis, Eve seems to be at the cusp of discovery and the accumulation of knowledge; her innocence is soon to be transformed by an experience that affects not only herself but all of her future descendants. As she ponders on the forbidden fruit almost at her grasp, omnipresent eyes constantly observe her. At the same time, various animals facing extinction surround her, except for a simple ladybug that represents insects continuing their survival when all species have been wiped out of the planet. Touching on Darwinian philosophy, the piece presents the beginning of time and the process of creation, and the dichotomy of faith and science as an oft-repeated story retold with the artist’s hand. This inception shows how a moment shapes the soul and catalyzes shifts in one’s essence and existence. The first work in the artist’s new series, Generations of Leaves, Eden is the initial setting—the exquisite yet formidable foundation from which myriads of tales will soon emerge. Depicted in religion, art, and history as the source of original sin, Eve is usually pictured in a villainous light. With Origins In, however, De Jesus takes control of the narrative, preferring to present Eve as impressionable yet thoughtful at a crucial point of her journey—just as when we are faced with the choices we need to make whenever we come into a decision, unsure of the consequences that may come forth.