This was a bridge piece of sorts, when working with Patrick in sisterwerx was beginning to wind down, but I feel that this was a real departure from our then usual low-brow raunch. Not there is anything wrong whatsoever with such an endeavor. We stan filth purveyance.
If I recall correctly, this was the first piece where I worked alongside with Trish, but I don’t think we went through our regular swapping process of trading pieces back and forth, adding, deleting. This was a true portentous prototype. Could have stopped me here. But its too late now, and you haven’t even seen my final form.
What I earnestly love about this piece: My first intentional venture into bridging the macro and micro, between the heavens and abyssal depths– I’m speaking about the backgrounds where the liminal seam is stitched together with a candied assortment of waifs, budgies & lovebirds. Some now forgotten image of a nebula above; the bioluminescence foundation is either an anemone or nudibranch. Again, its been a while.
The entry point, the provided title, references a union between two furthest possible unknowns (the stars & the seas), those who would be made divine apostolic intercessors. Dodecanomicon: Icon of the Twelve Named. Perhaps a gentle ribbing of the twelve known apostles of the Catholic tradition. No, no, too obvious, so gauche. I’m pretty sure I was thinking more of the Dii Consentes. Centralized, a dual-toned feminine figure is neither person nor mineral, but given her primarily vestal position, she might perhaps be the home hearth or perhaps instead a rock upon which one could build a church. Or a casino. Or luxury studio condos.
Sincerely though, I really do love their little rose hats. I think this was the first time of many many many that I donned upon my figures those squat little halos, sort of like lenticular berets of divinity.
If divinity isn’t cute, is it even worth it?
Well. You made it through.
High five.
xo,
-Ian.