Some Background-Information about The Seven Deadly Sins

The Seven Deadly Sins, also known as the Capital Vices or Cardinal Sins, is a classification of objectionable vices that have been used since early Christian times to educate and instruct followers concerning fallen humanity's tendency to sin. The currently recognized version of the list is usually given as anger (wrath), greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, and gluttony. They are called 'capital vices' because they engender other sins, other vices.

I think of the seven deadly sins as characteristics with which every human being has to come to terms within it-self. But if these characteristics get out of control, the human being can cross the line of the Ten Commandments and cause real evil: envy can lead to murder; greed and sloth (ignorance and arrogance) leave us blind to the needs of our fellow human beings.

The series of the Seven Deadly Sins, or the Mysterious and Mighty Creatures fighting against the Seven Deadly Sins has been inspired by my observations of life on a small Caribbean island in Belize. I had the chance to study the consequences of competition and outcome of racism within community life.

I have been painting different variations of the topic of the Seven Deadly Sins over the years. I adopted DESPAIR, my translation of the sin Tristitia which has been the eighth sin, but abandoned in the 7th century.

It took me a long time to understand SLOTH. I have finally realized that it is not about laziness, but about ignorance and idleness. I consider SLOTH the worst and most spread sin of today.

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