CANTICLE OF THE SUN

2024

Air Dry Clay

on cypress wood base

120(W) x 200(D) x 400(H) mm

“The Canticle of the Sun” was born from a period of profound suffering in Saint Francis’s life. Despite his own suffering and vulnerability, Saint Francis perceived the exquisite beauty inherent in all of creation—a beauty that resounded in praise of God. This poetic hymn celebrates nature’s elements as living creatures—brothers and sisters—such as the sun, moon, wind, water, fire, earth, and even bodily death. In their interconnectedness, they reveal the divine presence that permeates the fabric of existence.

The artwork portrays Saint Francis singing his canticle in joyful praise of God despite his afflictions. He raises his hands in praise of God through Brother Sun, embracing the divine paradox of suffering and ecstasy. His eyes are bandaged due to an eye disease that rendered them extremely sensitive to sunlight or the glow of fire at night. Yet, he continued to praise Brother Sun and Brother Fire. Paradoxically, these elements exacerbated his suffering while also revealing God’s presence. The celebration lies in recognizing what both nurtures and afflicts us.

Saint Francis’s bandaged hands and feet depict his mystical gift of Stigmata—the sacred wounds mirroring Christ’s suffering on the cross. Through embracing suffering, he found union with God, reminding us that our own “wounds” can become channels for grace, drawing us closer to the divine.

A dove perched on his left hand turns its head toward heaven, joining in praise alongside St. Francis. The Canticle invites us to discover the sacred within the ordinary.

Saint Francis teaches us that even amidst life’s trials—whether physical or emotional—we are called to praise God without reservation. In our darkest moments, when despair threatens, we can lift our voices in gratitude, recognizing beauty in our vulnerability and finding God even in our suffering.