The project of the French-born artist Toni Barca immediately catches one's attention as it touches on a delicate yet important theme that rarely becomes a subject of erotic art. The series of linocuts, a bit resembling some of Picasso's sensual sketches, formed Songs of Solomon: A Pillow Book for Breast Cancer Survivors & Their Lovers. The Hay House funded the issue of the book in 2013.
Fig. 1. The Breast Cancer Journey
Fig. 2. Amazon
Fig. 3. Picasso, erotic series no.3 (mutualart.com)
The Womb Temple
Nowadays, Toni Barca describes herself as a spiritual coach, hypnotherapist, and psychic tarot reader. On her Sacred Womb Temple Healing platform, she sells one-hour healing sessions and also offers help as a twin flames expert (the new age version of the platonic myth about androgynes who were cut in two by gods). In her blog, she calls the womb a compass that may guide a woman, yet mentions that "the compass was not handed to you at birth with the directives that spoke to your heart, you had to earn them, you had to learn them by knowing what you need to be fulfilled." The combination of something close to the Kantian sapere aude ("use your brain") motto with widespread esoteric discourse is truly remarkable.
Fig. 4. Buddha and his consort
Fig. 5. Trust Me Again
Fig. 6. I Am Crazy About You
A Lifelong Fascination With Warriors
According to Toni, her father was "a modern-day pirate and a bon vivant," whatever it could mean, so by the age of fourteen, she had already traveled across the world. Probably, this experience drew her to the ancient Amazons, mythological female warriors engaged in battles and expeditions of conquest. The idea of the book started taking shape in her mind when she was only ten. From her mother, Toni learned the story of a top British model who underwent a double mastectomy and was abandoned by her boyfriend. At the same time, she knew that Amazons were supposed to have a tradition of cutting one breast off for better archery. Let's mention that according to the folk etymology of Greeks, the name of the tribe means "breastless." Thirty-five years later, these concepts finally aligned in the artist's mind.
Fig. 7. Believe In Our Love
Fig. 8. Breath and Water
Fig. 9. You Are My Bellowed
In Premium more on Toni's view on human sexuality the contradiction between the image of an artist and the message of their work and more images of the artist's striking linocuts..
Click HERE for an article on the controversial engraver Eric Gill and his everlasting 'Song of Songs'
Sources: sacredwombtemplehealing.com; pasadenaweekly.com; images are taken from artmajeur.com
