Sold for: $109,250

PROVENANCE
Private Collection, Toronto
Sold sale of Fine Canadian Art, Heffel Fine Art Auction House, May 31, 2008, lot 210
Private Collection, Calgary

Within William Kurelek’s body of religious work, “I Am Who Am” is a rare depiction from the Old Testament. In Exodus 3:15, “I am who [I] am” is spoken by God to Moses at the burning bush – as an affirmation of God's existence. From the Hebrew “ehye aser ehye” the phrase appears variously in bible translations (“I am that I am” or “I am what I am”), and is often associated with the omnipresent and awe-inspiring nature of God. Kurelek’s dramatic rendition does not depict Moses, only the stunning phenomenon of the wildly burning bush: fluorescent oranges radiate from the glowing white center, contrasting with delicate and crisp green leaves and a rich, dark blue airbrushed background. The hand carved frame by Kurelek is integral to the work. Painted in the same vivid palette of orange, green and blue, the frame divides the image into three sections, emulating an altarpiece triptych.

Kurelek had been raised in the Ukranian Orthodox Church, but following years of psychological tumult and struggles with mental illness he converted to Roman Catholicism in 1957. Kurelek would go on to complete a number of ambitious religious series, including the narrative “The Passion of the Christ Series,”(1960-3), moralizing “Experiments in Didactic Art” (1963) and religious-satires “Glory to Man in the Highest” (1966). These major works were often accompanied by long explanatory texts. In this instance, Kurelek affixed a copy of Exodus 3:15-18 to the verso of this work.

Please note that the dimensions include the artist's hand-made frame. The dimensions of the painted area, not including the frame, are approximately 28 x 43 1/2 inches.

All prices are in Canadian Dollars

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