Beyond Redemption

TsukiNoKemuri

Beyond Redemption
2023

Acrylic and mixed media on chipboard
33 x 71 cm

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On the surface, Beyond Redemption has the appearance of the sign of a redemption center -- an establishment in a number of US states (and other countries) where cans and bottles are accepted for recycling, and the customers receive a refund of the small fee charged at the time the beverages were purchased. Other than a burnt corner, the sign appears quite ordinary.

But "redemption" has another meaning, and this is the one referenced in the phrase "beyond redemption". Redemption is salvation, forgiveness of sins or misdeeds. And someone beyond redemption is unforgivable, too far gone to be saved.

Personally, I don't believe in the biblical concepts of heaven and hell, but here I've drawn upon the imagery and symbolism. And feeling as if I am unforgivable, as if my past wrongs are too severe to be erased, is a shadow that I can't escape, no matter how fast I run or how cleverly I hide.

Using hell as a metaphor, there are a few clues to the meaning: the charred portion suggests fire, and hell is always open and eternally accepting new denizens. I was tempted to use the number 666 in the phone number, but decided that would be too obvious.

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As for the creation of this work, I again used chipboard, both because I had it on hand and because it was possible to cut without power tools. The lettering was chosen for a vintage look, and the can and bottle  images were kept minimal to not distract.

Some things I might have changed: the artwork is greatly scaled down from the size of the sort of sign it depicts, but the charred texture is not scaled down as well. And the sign shows no trace of being made from multiple boards, which is how I imagined it.