ink, paper, pen, graphite, alcohol marker; 20×16″
“Why can the discomfort of some control the education of everyone? The skulls within my piece represent gods of knowledge from different religions. There is the ibis for Thoth in Egypt, the owl for Athena, the salmon for the Celtic Salmon of Knowledge, the snake for Christianity, and the swan for the Hindu Goddess Saraswati. These animals are skulls to illustrate how censorship leads to the death of knowledge. The skulls form a cross because, historically, Christian groups/churches are large advocates for book banning which goal, when used on a wide scale, is to create an ignorant and vulnerable society. The world has become comfortable with people using their personal beliefs to dictate other’s knowledge. I know that I would not be the same if I had not been able to experience many of the books/media that left a lasting impact on me, and I don’t think others should stand in the way of being able to grow and experience the unconventional.”
ARTIST BIO: Quinn LAURENS is a grade 11 student at Butler Tech School of Art studying art under art teacher Mary Catherine Ruby.