Artist Statement: Seven Social Sins was my primary body of work created in 2010. The project consists of twenty-one 24 inch x 24 inch mixed media pieces on canvas. Media used included paper, found objects, ephemera, fabric, colored pencil, watercolor, ink and acrylic paint. Each canvas contains a unique conceptual image based on one of Mahatma Gandhi’s Seven Social Sins. Each sin has three individual pieces applicable to that particular theme.
My ultimate goal with this series was to create stunning, aesthetically pleasing imagery that remained intriguing, thought-provoking and subtly provocative. With a project of this nature it would be far easier to display the blatantly unpleasant and atrocious visuals likely to be associated with these principles. Despite this, I challenged myself to create a type of dichotomy within each piece, allowing the works to be both visual appealing yet slightly unnerving. The images contain their own beauty and interest on an aesthetic level. While at the same time, each work compels the viewer to consider various darker interpretations of the work. Eventually, I want people to gain a better understanding of how such sins play a constant role in our own cultures causing persistent social injustice.
Sin #1: Commerce without morality
Commerce without Morality I
Commerce without Morality II
Commerce without Morality III
Sin #2: Knowledge without character
Knowledge without Character I
Knowledge without Character II
Knowledge without Character III
Sin #3: Pleasure without conscience
Pleasure without Conscience III
Pleasure without Conscience II
Pleasure without Conscience I
Sin #4: Politics without principle
Politics without Principle I
Politics without Principle II
Politics without Principle III
Sin #5: Science without humanity
Science without Humanity III
Science without Humanity II
Science without Humanity I
Sin #6: Wealth without work
Wealth without Work I
Wealth without Work II
Wealth without Work III
Sin #7: Worship without Sacrifice
Worship without Sacrifice I
Worship without Sacrifice II
Worship without Sacrifice III
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Published by Carly Swenson, Visual Artist
Carly Swenson is an intuitive painter originally from northern Montana. She spent more than a decade working primarily as a mixed media artist before shifting to acrylics. Swenson received a BFA in Visual Arts with an Art History Minor from Bemidji State University. During and after university, she traveled and lived abroad, this included studying in China, traveling throughout Europe and living both in England and the Azores.Swenson’s work has been shown in solo and group exhibitions throughout the US and internationally. Her freelance writing and mixed media journals have been published in nationally distributed art magazines. She has facilitated art workshops for various age groups. Swenson’s work is also included in the permanent art collections of Angra do Heroismo Museum and Bemidji State University (Bemidji, MN). Currently, she lives in St. Paul, MN with a smart little dog and a weird little cat. They’re nice.
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All images (artwork and photography) protected by copyright and belong to Carly Swenson, unless otherwise noted. Any images not owned by Carly Swenson have been used with the consent of the copyright holder. Please do not reuse/publish/edit/copy/etc. any images from this blog without consent of the copyright holder. Thank you for your understanding and respect of artistic integrity.
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Carly Swenson • Intuitive Artist 
This is a beautiful series of works
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Thank you so very much. Some of my favorite pieces are from that series.
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those are just masterpieces… sometimes it’s almost Steampunk, sometimes it’s wonderful, sometimes it’s scary, but always amazingly beautiful, with a perfectly chosen symbolism, you succeed to do three absolutly different works on the same subject, it’s so mysterious, poetic and leaves thousands of mystical questions. My favorite is “knowledge without character I”, it looks so georgous and at the same time it’s both cute and sorta sad. The birds looks like they’re gonna fly away from the painting.
Congrats, and thank you, I had a wonderful time looking at these!
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Thank you very much. I appreciate your thoughtful comment. That is one of my favorites too. I am proud of this series, it was a tricky topic, because it inspires a lot of dark concepts. Some of my favorite works I have produced are part of this body of work.
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This is just great and so inspiring.. I love the depth that the layers of different media are creating.. all these textures are really rich
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Thank you so very much for taking the time to check out my post and my work. I really appreciate you kind words about my work–seriously, thank you.
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Wowwwwwww….. really beautiful.
Congratulations!!!!!!
Now I’ll go check out the book =)
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Thank you so much. I am very pleased with how this series turned out, it was a lot of work, but it was fantastic.
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Hi Carly, I could spend all day here, your whole blog is absolutely gorgeous. I’ve left my comment here because this is my favorite. lol. Best of luck with future work, exhibitions and adventures!
Neil : )
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That is so sweet of you! Thank you so much. This is probably my favorite series to date as well. Thank you so much for taking the time to check out my work and comment on my blog. I sincerely appreciate it.
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wow… very thought provoking.. a little lost for words! Fantastic series, you must be delighted :)
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