Invisible Cities 2002

About the Exhibit

“We are communal histories, communal books. We are not owned or monogamous in our taste or experience. All I desired was to walk upon such an earth that had no maps.”

-- Michael Ondaatje

INVISIBLE CITIES is a collection of stories about people and cities. It explores the idea of geography, borders, and the layering of history.

Throughout history the universe of cultural and religious symbols defies strict classification either by time or place or visual form. For example, both cross and swastika appear in African baskets and in Navajo pottery, in woven rugs from Afghanistan, and in early Christian artifacts and recent Nazi signage. The same symbol can have a variety of meanings over time, disappearing and reappearing in diverse and often totally unrelated contexts.

What makes Mark Higgins’ paintings and scrolls so deeply intriguing is the exquisitely harmonious juxtaposition and layering of many different symbols in one composition--in one world.

Each portrait presents a solemn human figure clothed in elaborately ceremonial vestment of elegantly patterned monograms, hatted often with architectural headgear and surrounded by mysterious texts. Sometimes the figure holds a many-domed temple in place of orb or sceptre--sometimes the body is tattooed or painted with sacred emblems. Yet each complex presentation remains in serene command.

Perhaps these images suggest different ancient cities or perhaps even an invisible civilization with resurrected elements repositioned, blended--familiar, baffling--like our own history.

The Very Reverend James Parks Morton
President, The Interfaith Center of New York
Dean Emeritus, The Cathedral of St. John the Divine