Stages of Sleep II
Joss paper and mixed media on canvas
40”H X 30”W X .75”D
Stages of Sleep II continues the series about capturing the liminal space between wakefulness and dreams. It is that unique space where reality softens and boundaries dissolve.
With the dissolving and dripping colors of reality around the edges, it feels like drifting off. This mixed media piece evokes the fluid, shifting nature of consciousness. Layers of shimmering Joss paper—traditionally used in spiritual offerings—are connected with a flow chart type of visualization of the disruptions and layers of consciousness typical of sleep.
This work invites contemplation on how we interpret our own existence. In sleep, we escape, renew, and untangle the complexities of our minds. Yet in wakefulness, we often delay, deny, and overlook. The line between these states is rarely distinct, and many find themselves moving through life in a trance, fixated on uncertainty and fear rather than embracing imagination and possibility.
Stages of Sleep II serves as both a reflection and a reminder—urging us to break free from passivity and engage with the vibrant, unseen layers of our reality.
