The Pantheon

In my M.F.A. thesis body of work, The Pantheon: An Allegory for Identity and The Soul, I have painted a polyptych of personified personality traits that collectively reflects my identity. Using Greek mythology as my vehicle for expression to explore a part of my heritage that was uncharted, I use familiar mythological characters as allegories to symbolize my collective consciousness. The character and abilities of each g-d or goddess reflects my identity driven by groups of concept words that parallel their personality, as well as my own. Upon research, study, and meditation, I have recontextualized the themes and morals from each mythological character into reimagined allegories that express my individuality and growth as a human being. 

The Pantheon is a narrative drawing driven by its characters and surrounding pictorial elements to symbolize my origin story as I close this chapter in my life and venture off toward the future. By reimagining these mythological characters into personifications of my identity, this work serves as an indirect self-portrait. 

DANI PAPA

"The Pantheon: An Allegory for Identity & The Soul" 

Graphite, Glazing Medium, Aerosol, Acrylic Paint, Metal Leaf, Acrylic-Based High Resin, Thickener, Gilding Gold, Mirror Pieces on 9 Birch Panels,

70” x 312” 

2024

In order from left to right:

- "Hephaesutus: Forge & Fire"

- "Artemis: The Moon & The Hunt"

- "Apollo: The Sun & The Arts"

- "Hermes & Demeter: Boundaries & Travel / Nature & Nurture"

- "Zeus & Hera: Power & Thunder / Family & Labor"

- "Aphordite & Poseidon: Love & Passion / The Sea & Earthquakes"

- "Ares: Aggression & Impulse"

- "Athena: Strategy & Wisdom"

- "Dionysus: Ecstasy & Desire"