Back in the mid '80s my stepfather's brother gave me a book that documented the history of art in science fiction. I wish I still had that book or remembered the name of the book, but I only remember that it was a hardback book that showed art and movie posters from the early years to the then present (early '80s). I didn't read much of the book as I was only 15 years old at the time, but the artwork entranced me. Of course, I looked for the Star Wars pictures (and I believe there were one or two) as I was a big fan of the series. But those pictures aren't the ones that stayed with me. I remember two pictures from over twenty years ago: The first picture show an alien bending over in pain, holding his ears as huge rocket ships flew by overhead. The alien was humanoid with a very, very large head. His holding his hands on his head stood out as I recall that you could see veins in his head and he looked like he was in extreme pain from the sound. The image just struck me as odd and disturbing. The future was supposed to be bright and fun and amazing--not filled with sonic booms hurting people's ears. I think this was one of my first run-ins with contemporary art that had a social message.
The second picture was even more disturbing. I wish I could find this picture. If anyone knows what I'm talking about, please e-mail me and send me along the name of the picture and the artist (and a link to the picture if it's available on the web). The picture simply showed one or two lizard like aliens cringing in fear/pain at the foot of the hill in which Jesus Christ was being crucified. I wish I remember the name of the painting, but the image stays with me to this day.
I remember looking at the picture and wondering what would my Catholic upbringing make of aliens being discovered? Would they have been created in the "image and likeness" of God, too? And, if so, then why would the aliens be lizard-like and yet God chose to come to the world as a human. Would that mean that God saved all of creation by being born into human form and suffering and dying on the cross? Would aliens be saved and could go to heaven too? The picture just stirred up a whole lot of questions for me. I held onto those memories for over 15 years and that's when I came up with the idea for "Five Wounds."
If humans discovered an alien who had the stigmata what would people make of that? I ran with that idea and there you go. Inspiration can come in wonderful forms and often those ideas are buried away in your subconscious, emerging decades later.
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