Out of the given three, the concept that spoke to me the most was “Pilgrimage”. To elaborate, my goal was to represent the “Pilgrimage of Penance”- a journey on one’s trip to salvation and repentance. The word penance itself refers to the voluntary self-punishment one would inflict as an outward expression of confessing and repenting for one’s sins (Merriam-Webster, n.d.). To continue, to repent means to feel or express sincere regret or remorse about one’s wrongdoings (or sins) (Merriam-Webster, n.d.). On the other hand, pilgrimage refers to a journey- any journey- often into an unknown and foreign place where a person goes in search of newfound expanded meaning, whether it be religious or not (Merriam-Webster, n.d.). I linked the concept of pilgrimage with penance upon the realization that penance in itself is a journey- a both physical and mental, internal and external journey.
The concept that I came up with for “Pilgrimage of Penance” begins with a literal cleansing in a pool of water, symbolizing the washing away of one’s sins. One must trudge through a small reflecting pool to reach the next part of the pilgrimage, which is an extensive walk around an even larger reflecting pool. The journey around the perimeter of the pool represents how one would reflect on their own impact on the world, giving time for contemplation and introspection to come to realizations on one’s wrongdoings and having the world literally reflect upon them.
Upon turning the corner to finish the walk around the perimeter, one is met with a view of tranquility through a gate; a moment in peace, and a reminder of what’s to come at the end of this pilgrimage. This view, unfortunately, is shown right before the most daunting portion of the journey- a long, dark, cramped tunnel, arranged to represent the uncomfortable and dark-in-nature qualities of repentance. This corridor is where the true payment for one’s sins occurs. As one travels through, left only with their mind in a state of frustration and reflection on one’s wrongdoings, the self-punishment and payment for one’s sins begins. The walls of the hallway are barely wide enough for one to squeeze through, reinforcing the air of discomfort and reminding one that this journey is a punishment.
The end of the tunnel meets a single column in a smaller open area, symbolizing the turning point of penance- the punishment is over, and the move toward a better becoming begins. At the end of the open hallway, one more column stands to form a gateway into a wide, open area only housing a monolith in the center, symbolizing the step one takes into the world as a new person upon cleansing their sins. The penance is complete, peace has been found, and the pilgrimage ends.
Work Cited
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Dictionary by Merriam-Webster: America's most-trusted online
dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved March 8, 2023, from
https://www.merriam-webster.com/
dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved March 8, 2023, from
https://www.merriam-webster.com/