Throughout my career I have explored relationships and the nature of human condition. In the past, using the symbolism of fairy tales, marriage, as well as various objects such as purses, I have proposed questions about the relevance of allegorical role models for today’s youth, the exalted position of brides on their wedding day and proposed other contexts for the personal belongings in women’s handbags.

What stimulates an artist to gravitate to a particular image and to use a medium to express its impact is a mysterious, subtle and continuing revelation to me. For the Lilith Series I draw upon the wisdom of the ancient women within ourselves, the rich archetypes and valuable traditions in order to challenge arena and values that need to be questioned and altered.

This decade has brought a wave of public awareness of the Lilith Legend - of the first woman, the embodiment of human struggle for equality, independence, love and meaning - to a level unparalleled in recorded history. ‘Male and female has he created them’ proclaims Genesis in its first version of humanity’s creation.  The bible later changed its mind, explaining the creation of woman as Yahweh’s afterthought. Jewish tradition outside the bible is rich in legends regarding this first female called Lilith. From the beginning, Lilith perceived herself equal to Adam - equal to man. As Adam insisted on his supremacy, Lilith adamantly refused. Determined to retain her independence and dignity, she chose loneliness over subservience. Lilith left the safety of the Garden of Eden through trickery and in subsequent legends her winged image acquired a revengeful and demonic quality, one that overshadowed the original independent and intelligent character.

Drawing from the rich symbolism of 5th century Midrashic legends and 15th century Zohar texts, I have been exploring and interpreting the Lilith character as the messenger of, and the hope for human courage and egalitarianism, not only for women, but for all humanity. In my work I use the Lilith legend both as a metaphor and as a powerful tool to reveal the struggle and shifting roles between men and women of this past decade. Through this body of work I am demonstrating the importance of a re-assessment of the legendary Lilith, and call for the inclusion of both her and Eve’s attributes with our notion of a successful, fulfilled 21st century woman. Lilith’s negative legendary perception reflected and shaped men’s feelings about assertive women for centuries.

My images of Lilith run the gamut, from the beautiful temptress and seducer, to the child-stealing demon and mysterious night predator. Her figure is not the typical Goddess type with large hips, belly and pendulous breasts. Not being a nurturing, motherly type, she represents the modern “physically fit” woman of today. I use layers of spackle on paper and panel which allow me to achieve an ancient, worn texture and soft graphite for dramatic light contrasts. Coloured areas are executed in acrylic paint. Occasionally I introduce collages of older works done in various mediums. Through the lack of recognizable costumes and backgrounds I stress the fact that the Lilith character transcends historical, gender, religious and social boundaries.

Lilian Broca