For this project I want to explore various aspects of superstitions, their origins, and how they relate to other ideas such as faith, ritual, and destiny.
The entire book will be made out of wood, with the emblem on the front cover reading "Knock before you enter". In the end, the pages will be bound using hinges and screws, but for now, I have left them separate to make editing easier.
The first two images use digital collage to draw comparisons between respected ritual and superstition.
For these first two pages, in particular, I wanted to explore the blurred line between superstition and
sacred ritual or belief. Superstition can be regarded as a somewhat
derogatory term referring to those ritualistic acts or objects in
which we ourselves do not believe or place value. To the faithful,
however, this insinuation could be quite insulting. Superstition or
faith, it seems, is defined in the eye of the beholder and the heart
of the believer.
As the viewer turns the transparent pages, this depiction of a bishop giving a blessing with holy water (a ritual considered sacred and valuable by many) is transformed into what is widely regarded as a "superstitious" act, tossing salt over one's shoulder. Through this comparison I wanted to call attention to the arbitrary and pejorative nature of the term "superstition".
The second image makes a similar point, this time targeting patriotism rather than religion, and the way rituals and superstitions grab hold of us early in life when we are young, impressionable, and still have much to learn about the world. As children, we are likely to accept these rituals without question, believing in their "supernatural" power.
the idea of myths, legends, rituals and superstition bring us into the realm of the mystical. I am intrigued with your questions:"Is it faith itself that empowers ritual and icon, superstition and charm? And do they shape our fate, manifesting self-fulfilling prophecies? If so, can superstitions hold as much power for the individual as widely held beliefs do for our society?"
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