Desire by Caeli Harman

11x14 Oil paint by Caeli Harman

Artist Statement:

“Under Every Green Tree” is a series of outdoor still life paintings that explore obsession or idolization in relationships. In each painting the objects tell the story—from the sugar bowl in “Desire” to the strings of necklaces in “Cosmetic”. Together, the arrangements speak to how we can often seek something adjacent to love and miss the real thing. 

I decided to name the series, “Under Every Green Tree”, because of its reference to biblical idolatry. The phrase is used to describe how the Israelites, the God of the Bible’s chosen people, were so willing to set up shrines wherever they went to gods who were not their own, therefore missing or forgetting the God who had saved them. In the same way, we can often subconsciously settle for less than love, telling ourselves “if I can’t be loved, then I will be needed, if I can’t be loved, then I will be desired, if I can’t be loved, then I will be admired”. The list goes on. In the end, we can even begin to take pride in how we can illicit these reactions instead of love, establishing unhealthy relationship patterns. The shrine-like set up of the still lifes with the motif of candles in each piece further the idea of idolizing these traits to an unhealthy level. 

When pondering these pieces, I would challenge you to examine what you believe love to be, and encourage you to ruminate on this question:  Have there been relationships in your life where you have settled for less than love?