Symbols are fluid. Their meanings shift, evolve, and fracture across time, shaped by power, belief, and cultural memory. The Sacred and The Profane explores this transformation, examining how symbols that once held sacred significance have been recast as profane—or lost their meaning altogether.
At the heart of this inquiry is the enigmatic Sheela-na-gig, the crude yet compelling stone carvings of exposed female figures that adorn medieval Christian churches across Ireland and Britain. Their original purpose is obscured by history—were they protective talismans, fertility figures, or warnings against sin? Once possibly revered, they have since been relegated to the margins, their meaning reinterpreted or erased by evolving religious and societal norms.
Elizabeth Hefty Khoury’s work engages with these ambiguous symbols, weaving them into a broader exploration of syncretism—the blending of spiritual traditions across time. Drawing from her deep interest in Celtic mythology and its echoes in modern monotheistic faiths, she reimagines these forgotten relics in a contemporary context. Through painting, sculpture, and mixed media, her work questions what is deemed sacred, who decides, and how those decisions shape our understanding of history and identity.
By confronting the tension between veneration and vilification, The Sacred and The Profane seeks to reclaim lost narratives and invite new interpretations. It is an invitation to reflect on the echoes of ancient belief systems that persist beneath the surface of the modern world.
The Sacred and The Profane
April 12 – April 21, 2025
Location:
Calle Doctor Ballester, 21,
Ermita de San Sebastián
Cervera del Maestre, Castellon, ES
The Sacred and the Profane
Solo exhibition by Elizabeth Hefty-Khoury
