My
work is about exploring the mythologies that form the basis of
the various cultures that have existed on earth and re-interpreting
them to create a new basis of belief for the current world. I
began this investigation in 2005 with the piece entitled The
Long Road, wherein I threw away what I had been taught
by the current culture of America, and began looking at the origins
of world civilization.
The
first major work that I created after beginning my investigations
was Maraude’s Labyrinth in
2006. In this piece, I put forth the first re-interpreted myth
in my codex – that of Maraude and
the Destruction of the World. Here, instead of a creation
story, I wrote a re-creation myth embodying the cycle of destruction
and creation that exists both in the natural world and human
culture.
In the latest piece I am
exhibiting in February, 2008, I am continuing my
mythology series with the story of Maham
and the Continuation of Man. In this
myth, I am exploring the cycle of creation again. This
time however, the focus is on the continuation
of man, and the secrets of human creation – language,
abstract thought, civilization and place of humanity
in the universe. Maham’s
Temple is the re-creation of an ancient
temple to the goddess that would be created every
lunar new year in her honor, for the devotion of
prayers for the coming harvest.
Bio lehm elken
BIRTH Born 1983
:: United States
EDUCATION 2006 BA
Art History *
Sonoma
State University
Gallery
and Museums Management Emphasis
2006 BA
Studio Arts *
Sonoma
State University
Sculpture
Emphasis
2006 Minor
History *
Sonoma
State University
East
Asian History Emphasis
GRANTS and AWARDS 2006 University
Wide Undergraduate Research Grant
Sonoma
State University
2001 Jurors
Honor Selection, Annual School District Exhibition
Richmond
Art Center, Richmond, CA
2000 Jurors
Honor Selection, Annual School District Exhibition
Richmond
Art Center, Richmond, CA
ARTIST COLLABORATIONS 2006 ZOLTAN+ 2006 Yoram
Wolberger 2006 Trenton
Sheridan
EXHIBITIONS February
2008 Maham’s Temple*
Sebastopol
Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA
June
2007 Toil and Trouble Benefit Exhibition
Space
Gallery, San Francisco, CA
May 2006 Commence
Sculpture
Sonoma
State University
May 2006 Juried
Student Exhibition
University
Art Gallery, Sonoma State University
May 2005 Intervention
Fontana
Ranch, Santa Rosa, CA
May 2005 Juried
Student Exhibition
University
Art Gallery, Sonoma State University
April 2005 Studio
Stories
Library
Gallery, Sonoma State University
May 2001 Annual
School District Exhibition *Award
Richmond
Art Center, Richmond, CA
May 2000 Annual
School District Exhibition *Award
Richmond
Art Center, Richmond, CA