The rose has always held deep significance as a symbol of the feminine generative power, (the yoni or maternal creativity,) the strongest theme in the three self-portraits on display here.

Sub rosa is a Latin phrase that alchemists use to identify the place where the process of psychic transformation takes place. Literally sub rosa means “under the rose.” The origin of this phrase follows a Greek myth in which Eros, the god of love and sex, gives a rose to Harpocrates, the god of silence, in gratitude for his discretion.

For this reason, sub rosa implies the silence and secrecy necessary for the interior work of transformation—work which takes place beneath the many petalled folds of the rose of the Self. 

Set against the black-and-white contrast of this gallery are also images of fire and water, supplemental symbols of transformation, that continuous process which requires equal parts destruction and creation, loss and finding. Just as water can extinguish a flame, fire can boil water away to nothing. 

Playing with identity and self-representation, Sub Rosa explores art and the artist as agents of transformation.