PROJECT
Senior Thesis Exhibition II
CLIENT/ORG
KO Portfolio;
Catholic University of America
YEAR
2019
GENRE/ROLE
Fine Art, Digital Art, Compositing
Artist's Statement
Within the Judeo-Christian tradition, seven archangels are believed to stand among the highest of the angelic host. While only three are formally recognized within my Roman Catholic faith, the broader mythos surrounding angelic beings echoes across numerous religious traditions and cultures. Drawing upon poetic license, I expanded beyond canonical figures to assemble a septet—Chamuel, Raphael, Jophiel, Michael, Uriel, Zadkiel, and Gabriel—forming a new mythic narrative entitled SEPTARK.
This series seeks to artistically embody these seven archangels through visual representations that integrate moral virtues with both earthly and ethereal elements. Each figure is conceived as a convergence of the sacred and the symbolic—anchored in tradition yet rendered through contemporary form.
The creative process began with photography. From members of my own social circle—my wife, brothers, cousin, aunt, advisor, and myself—I selected models whose presence best conveyed the spirit of each archangel. These images served as the foundation for extensive digital manipulation. Using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator as my working environment, alongside a drawing tablet, I constructed these otherworldly figures while reflecting deeply on their theological and symbolic roles.
Artistically, SEPTARK draws influence from the eccentric dynamism of Japanese anime and manga, the grace and choreography of Chinese Wuxia cinema, and the immersive energy of contemporary comic book and video game culture. These influences converge to form a visual language that bridges the sacred with the modern.
In this body of work, I seek to synthesize divine imagery with contemporary visual culture without diminishing the mystery inherent in angelic symbolism. In an era attentive to diversity and representation, I present these figures not only as a person of faith, but also as an artist shaped by a multicultural background and sensibility. Through each composition, I strive—faithfully and intentionally—to honor the legacy of past masters while engaging the digital medium as a legitimate and evolving platform for sacred art.
Art Exhibition
