Healing Through Brutality

Title: Healing Through Brutality
Materials: Mixed media installation
Description: It was while I was working on this piece that I realized why I indulged in horror and gore films as a child – because there was a lot of hate and unforgiveness in me which I was unaware of. In retrospect, I recognize this interest to be a form of escapism from the anger and hate I harboured, and as a visible cry out for healing and redemption.

The red threads which represents guts, growing into flowers, is an expression of finding healing and meaning through brokenness and allowing beauty to be revealed through this process. Embroidery as a medium emphasizes this outgrowth to be a form of meditation and act of mending.

This piece reminds me that God can redeem anything, from the bitterness in my heart by the most violent and unjust death of all, Jesus’ crucifixion, and make it into something beautiful.

About Marie Toh

I draw, poke and cut things.

I guess drawing, or creating things (be it embroidery or paper cut outs), has just always been a medium that spoke to me to express myself when I cannot find the right words to say. It is also a means for me to spend time with God, through the meditative process, I feel I can quieten my heart and hear His voice clearer. In some sense, the works I make are the conversations between God and I.

People believe being an artist is a title we give ourselves or seek external validation to get. But for me, being an artist is a calling; a privilege to have. I did not choose to be an artist, but chose to listen to the calling that God placed in my heart. 

View my creative works here or here (if you are more of Tumblr person). See what I am up to @flesssh or you could even drop me a note at marie.toh3@gmail.com.