Michael J Wright - To Infinity and Beyond
Michael Wright, Outside Artist
Michael’s life story is a captivating tale of adventure, curiosity, and artistic expression. Born in the rural heartlands of New South Wales, Australia, on September 14, 1949, Michael's education at a Catholic college laid the foundation for his diverse and rich life journey. In his mid 20s, he was bitten by the travel bug, leading him to explore the wonders of Europe and North Africa for almost a year, where he discovered his passion for photography.
Over the next decade, Michael dabbled in various business ventures, from building renovation to fashion, and from restaurant ownership to furniture manufacturing. However, none of these paths led to fulfillment. It wasn't until 1983 that Michael found his calling in the world of natural healing. He immersed himself in studies of herbalism, Japanese Zen massage, yoga, color healing, and spiritual healing.
A pivotal moment came in 1984 when Michael attended a course on Psychobiology at NatureCare College in Sydney, led by Dr. Philip Groves. This experience opened the door to his true life's path. The following year, Dr. Groves invited Michael to join his private group meetings, which he attended with love and dedication for 14 years until Dr. Groves' passing in 1999. Under Dr. Groves' guidance, Michael explored the teachings of great mystics and delved into subjects ranging from Egyptology to sacred architecture, and from esoteric Christianity to various modes of natural healing.
Dr. Groves also encouraged Michael to channel his ideas, feelings, and visions through art. After several years at The National Art School in Sydney, Michael emerged as an artist, though he preferred to identify as an Outsider Artist, with a style that was a bit rough around the edges. His art, always spiritual in theme, was showcased in both small and large exhibitions, typically in series of seven or nine, accompanied by guest speakers who delved into the exhibition's theme.
Michael's love for travel never waned, taking him to places like Indonesia, Sikkim, Thailand, Nepal, India's north-west corner, Turkey, Japan, Morocco, and Europe. Photography was often (but not always) his chosen medium, a paintbrush capturing the essence of the Buddhist Himalayas, a region he felt most at home in, despite his commitment to Esoteric Christianity—a path where he found all great spiritual traditions converge in the pursuit of truth and transformation.
"My inspirations and visions well up from the depths of my subconscious … my true self. These spiritual gifts I feel need to be expressed in a variety of artistic ways such as sculpture, printmaking, poetry, journal writing, photography and installations. As each of these small exhibitions manifest and unfold little by little, I learn humbly and gracefully with love and wisdom, a little more of the spiritual nature of the self."
The story of the artwork:
Have a look at the story behind this curious artwork, and see if you can get a feel for Michael Himself, through his blog.
https://studioofobjectiveart.wordpress.com/2018/04/04/infinity-and-beyond/