Ascension

By: Richard III

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas Panel

Dimensions: 24in x 30in

Year: 2014 (Unfinished)

Status: Private Collection / Unavailable

Ascension : Duality of Departure

In Ascension, the artist captures the profound "Duality of Departure," exploring the divergent paths of the soul at the moment of transition. The composition is bisected by a searing, vertical light that serves as both a gateway and a boundary. On one side, figures are depicted in a luminous, weightless rise, drawn toward the divine presence of the Father; on the other, the darker, heavier silhouettes suggest the gravity of a soul unmoored from grace. This visual contrast serves as a sobering meditation on the spiritual consequences of one's earthly journey, illustrating the tension between the pull of "High Heaven" and the density of the world left behind.

Central to the emotional weight of the piece are those who wait—the figures anchored at the bottom of the canvas, gazing upward with expressions of raw longing and reverence. This element is deeply rooted in the artist’s personal experience of the "Sacred Vigil," reflecting the solemn hours spent witnessing a loved one transition from this life. These figures represent those who remain behind, tasked with the holy and often painful duty of witnessing the departure of others. Through Ascension, the artist transforms a moment of personal loss into a universal testimony of faith, portraying the act of staying behind not as an abandonment, but as a purposeful, grounded watchfulness that acknowledges the sanctity of the soul’s return.

The piece was originally conceived as a diptych positioned directly beneath A Son is Given, creating a powerful theological cycle. This vertical alignment illustrates a divine exchange: while A Son is Given depicts the Creator bestowing a precious, illustrious gift upon the terrestrial realm, Ascension portrays the terrestrial returning the very essence of their being to the One who gave it. This structural relationship emphasizes that life is not a linear journey, but a sacred circle of stewardship and return. It frames the human experience as a temporary dwelling, where the ultimate fulfillment is found in the spirit’s journey back to its source.