Rites of passage: the lost art of being human

I am interested in exploring ritualised practice in terms of a personal spiritual quest, a journey that includes symbolic elements such as rites of passage. I want to investigate the potential of this human activity, in terms of its beneficial effects within a contemporary social context, particularly in a discussion of its role in building community and a strong sense of self. I am looking at the relationship between art, play and ritual: the body of work is an exploration of the links between the three. I have looked at the residual practices still found within contemporary industrial societies, reminiscent of rituals connected to ancient rites of passage; as well as the unbroken practices of traditional cultures around the world and how they still remain a way of life. My practice has helped me nurture a curiosity in the phenomenal world alongside the spiritual. Such yearning for meaning has taken me outside of academia, often studying various aspects of philosophy and spirituality. I have concentrated on Eastern traditions (mostly Tibetan Buddhism) and the ethos of first nations people. The body of work undertaken for my MFA does not merely look in a symbolic way at a journey or a rite, but investigates its essence; I see it as my own rite of passage.