The Yoke is Heavy, Are You Sure You Can Handle?, 2023

I find myself perpetually drawn to the intersection of doubt and faith, two profound and paradoxical forces that shape the human experience. It is within this balance that I have ventured to create my latest work that contemplates on the relevance of faith in my life. Taking inspiration by the scripture from Matthew 11:28-30. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” As I created this piece, it became a personal journey of introspection and revelation, a process of questioning and seeking answers. Through this painting, I interrogate God himself on whether He actually carries the burdens that I feel. The burden of self-identity, who I am and the struggles of how I see myself in the context a Christian faith. The play of scale and imbalance is how I imagine these burdens that continually weigh heavily on me as the relief that is promised in Matthew 11:28-30 is not evident. Yet, the very idea of faith is perhaps what allows me to endure. Ultimately, my aim is not gain definitive answers but to provoke thought and conversation, both to myself and to thew viewers. I believe that doubt and faith are not mutually exclusive; rather, they are integral to the human experience. In embracing the tension between the two, I wish to discover profound truths about ourselves and our place in the world. It is my hope that this artwork resonates with viewers, sparking introspection and dialogue about how they engage with their own doubts, and ultimately leading us towards a deeper understanding of our own personal journeys.

The works of John Gatip span within the transection of art and architecture.

He explores through the mode of sculpture, painting, and art installations. His work derives from the need to narrate the immediate, record his introspections and create his explorations. Materiality, colour, architectural metaphors, and symbolism are prominent features of his work laced with layers of narrative.

John celebrates his heritage as a Filipino born Australian as he is heavily influenced by the culture and the arts and craft of the Philippines. He is a registered architect in Victoria, Australia and co-led Master of Architecture Design Studios at the Melbourne School of Design. John’s work has been exhibited in galleries locally in Australia as well as Internationally. His work has been published in magazines such as Houses and Inside Out.