Literature
Tim Lowly shares his deep-rooted insights in Regarding Suffering: An Artist’s Reflections on the Perception of Suffering in Painting by using his own paintings to portray suffering. “Lowly’s subject in these paintings involves the theme of disorientation, and he considers suffering as the absence of a sense of home,” says Hinerman and Suton (2012) in On Suffering: An Interdisciplinary Dialogue on Narrative and Suffering. His painting also explores how one identifies with a sufferer, as in the case of The Strange Progeny, while redressing a need for generalization.
In Tim Lowly’s article Regarding Suffering: An Artist’s Reflection on the Perception of Suffering in Painting, the artist sulks in grief over what his wife, Sherrie, and he, went through when they revived a baby, they thought was their princess. Days after reviving their baby whom they named Temma, it dawned on them that Temma, their lovely daughter, had been revived only to be diagnosed with a severe brain damage that was to be incongruent than their first experience. The painting of Temma lying down looking at the smashed Greek krater with its image of Nike the goddess of Victory, and Lowly, far back in distant, looking in utter disbelief, suggests the inner feeling of the painter. The smashed krater, signifies or symbolizes, the shattered dreams Lowly and Sherrie had on Temma. The smoke going up signifies the evaporation of dreams.
Imagine the emotional anguish they would have gone through Tim and Sherrie when they gave their all to revive a two-day-old baby that nearly died of a massive cardiac arrest? They would have been more than elated by God’s gift and would have hoped that their prayers were answered, but that was not to be. Days later, when they began to observe certain uncharacteristic movements, they were told of Temma’s mental condition. It was years later that they understood the seriousness of the problem with Temma. While it is usual for parents to grief when something happens to their loved ones, the first painting of Temma lying beside the Greek krater, revealed the artist’s inner grief in full view. However, years later, he reconciles to the fact that no amount of grief was going to get Temma on her feet, and that her disabilities should not get the better of them. Months later, when he understood the importance of carrying on in life, and he started to paint his daughter’s growth, Lowly defined their suffering, in relation to his daughter, as a part of life, and that it exists everywhere. Therefore, there is nothing to grief about Temma, as she, like all others born on earth, suffers from birth, aging and death.
The positions in which he paints Temma in his paintings clearly is intended to show Temma’s sufferings. The facial expressions say it all; not once is Temma seen smiling or laughing. The positions in which Lowly paints Temma are complicated and not a position a person of that age or size would enjoy being in for a long time. The portraits seem to suggest that the painter in fact wants his audience to pity Temma for what she is. There are in many ways, a reflection of the artist; through his paintings of Temma, to show his inward experience of suffering, the many causes of suffering, and how, such suffering can be articulated, understood, and even overcome. The dull, expressionless look in her eyes shows Temma to be suffering.
After reading this article, the three important aspects of suffering that I have learned is that, every person on this planet, goes through a series of events that brings sufferings, as much as happiness. Be it at birth, while aging, or at the time of death, any mortal being will eventually experience suffering. The second point is that, suffering can be man-made. In pursuit of desire, hate or ignorance, man can, and will experience suffering. Sufferings are inner beliefs, and once a person overcomes it, they will see life and suffering differently. For example, when Lowly painted Temma with the Greek krater, he did so, in grief. However, as time passed by, he began to see another meaning to the painting. It looked as though “Temma’s position lying on the ground appears to be as if she is striding or even running, intently” (interdisciplinary.net). With a little introspection, one can change the perception of one’s feelings and see things differently. The reason why people suffer is that they react to a situation without apprehending it; they don’t see any reason to think logically, and move with the flow of emotions around. Once these three important aspects of suffering are gauged, people will look at life differently. The underlying assumption on the subject of suffering by Tim Lowly is that, while its easy to be carried away by the physical and emotional flow of the circumstances surrounding them, when people cultivate sensitivities and insights into the nature of suffering they undergo, introspecting can empower them to change their mental, cultural, and social conditions under which they experience such sufferings. People assume that by inculcating an unassuming, and empathic course that includes actively listening to those who suffer, will allow them to cross the boundaries of isolation many sufferers experience, and develop a strong and authentic relationship.
Finally, if one were to perceive how Tim Lowly saw the nature of suffering, it would be not to take life in all its seriousness; introspection is required to overcome one’s suffering.
