There were many beautiful and thought-provoking artworks submitted for our March “Identity” issue and we will be including a number of them in the issue. The variety of media represented covered a wider range than we have seen before and visual art comprised about 17% of submissions, which is a record. “Identity” also edged out “Vulnerable” with the most submissions over all categories ever submitted for a theme.
The winner of the Identity cover contest is sculptor Lynden Cline of Simi Valley, California with Violations of the human spirit are never forgotten. This is a strikingly beautiful work of figural abstraction, rich in symbolism. A shapely steel dress stands tall before a collection of steel squares dotted with red wax. The figure, which reads feminine because of the curves of hip and bosom, contains a small, square hole in the center of the chest, occupied by a single red candle, which is lit. A narrow ladder leads from the floor to this central chamber, emphasizing her height. Lynden works predominantly in steel, but the inclusion of a contrasting material, in this case the deep red wax and wax candle, creates a textural duality that is further enhanced by the element of fire. Violations of the human spirit are never forgotten is cropped for the cover, but will be presented in its full form inside the issue.
The piece has countless connotations and interpretations that touch on identity, memory, trauma and resilience. The squares suggest blood stains, evidence of abuse and injury. The ladder reminds us of the difficult journey to the center of the self, especially when we have become accustomed to projecting strength to ward off those who would injure us further. The burning candle bears witness to the persistence of painful memory fused and transmuted into the resilience of the human spirit continuing to shine even in the shadow of trauma and oppression. Every time I look at it, I find a nuance that I didn’t notice before. Beautiful, eye-catching and powerful, Violations of the human spirit are never forgotten is the perfect cover for Synkroniciti’s exploration of “Identity.”
We will have more about this stunning work and a couple more, as well as Lynden’s bio, in her artist feature, coming out later this winter. Please keep her in your thoughts as she is currently assisting with the fire recovery efforts in Los Angeles.
If you would like to pre-order “Identity,” you may do so starting tomorrow at https://synkroniciti.com/the-magazine/purchase-individual-issues/.
Congratulations, Lynden!