Full Stop: Red Calm

It was dawn when I made this image of a young monk in Myanmar. The day was chilly and I walked through the temple alone. Suddenly, this beautiful boy turned a corner and appeared in front of me. I remember admiring how ingenious and inventive monks are. They often have only one garment in their possession and even so, they are able to dress, adorn, distinguish and shelter themselves with one simple cloth.

Of course, his striking red wrap is anything but simple. Red is both a timeless, eternal and regal color and a vibrant shade that signals alarm and full stops. I was aware of the dichotomy and weeks later, viewing the image in my studio, I was arrested by this blood-red color so strong it paused all thought. A sense of calmness came over me in that moment of mental silence. I looked deeply and could see clearly in his face how a portrait is a story of a person’s life. In the topography of his face, I saw a quiet wisdom. It said to me relax, be grounded, allow your soul to emanate, remember what is possible.

I displayed this image for a time at the entry of my home. Arriving after a hectic day, I would get an instant reminder to stop and switch gears. We need cues that signal attitude adjustments, or I do. This image has sheltered me and my family from the internal storms that brewed and threatened our sanctuary, had they not been set aside. Allow yourself to do a full stop, to join me—to see and experience red calm.