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ARTIST STATEMENT
VOLOFOTOZOTO
In loving memory of my mother

Volofotozoto began in 2020 as a Christmas card. One white sheet of paper was sliced into dozens of strands which naturally curled. These segments were then photographed. With it is a narrative of life, death, and light.

As each strand was cut, the beginning of this piercing activity references the birth of Jesus and the sparganoo event where Mary wrapped him in swaddling cloths on that most holy Christmas night. The completion of the strand being cut points to Jesus’ death where he took our place in sin’s demands so that we may live.

Think of it this way. The left strand end is birth. The right strand end is death. But wait, it doesn’t end there.

The strand doesn’t lie flat and dormant. It takes on a new life. It curls and swirls, bends and curves, giving new focus to this simple slice.

And about the focus… in photography terms it’s called shallow depth of field. It’s where a portion of the photo is in focus and the rest is blurred. Here, the result is a delicate play of the light’s glow pulsating abound the frame, journeying from sharply-defined details to ethereal radiance.

Light’s dance is bathed in a full spectrum of colorful luminosity celebrating the life these slices represent. All this mention of light surrounds the continual biblical understanding of Jesus as our light among darkness.

This same light cloaks each one of us in the Gerechtigkeit Kleid (Luther Bibel 1545), the righteousness robe of Isaiah 61:10. Christ putting himself on us and uniting us with him is further revealed in his chosen means of grace graciously delivered in Romans 6:3-5 and beyond.

The brilliantly white cloak of righteousness, bearing a purple cross adorned with the Agnus Dei, graced my mother earlier this year in recognition of her passing onto the loving embrace of our Savior. This event is the inspiration for the Christmas message here.

The Gerechtigkeit Kleid is why Volfotozoto began as one full sheet. The numerous strands resulting from a singular source speak to how we are united in the one body of Christ. We are brothers and sisters in Christ.

So, when viewing these photographs, remember the night of our dear Saviour’s birth where his mother Mary affectionately wrapped him in cloth bands. Also consider the everyday Christian vocation of a mother’s loving embrace, her caring touch and gentle care paired with her child’s loving response.

At the same time, think of the enveloping nature of the photographed matter pointing to the crucified Christ wrapped in cloth bands when placed in the tomb.

Finally, be most assured of our new life in the resurrected and living Christ, one of freedom celebrated in the ever-unique flight of the Volofotozoto butterfly which curls and swirls, bends and curves. Christ for you, each of you.

Erik Maldre
2020

A sampling of photographs from the Volofotozoto series are available at instagram.com/erikmaldre.

Each photograph is an edition of three. The first was shared with friends and family as a Christmas card. The second will remain as part of the complete set. The third is being sold at here in limited, multi-stage releases with all proceeds donated to Rush University’s Parkinson’s Disease Program in honor of my mother.