Christopher Martin’s Recognition Is at the Heart of Being (2025, Mixed Media Sculpture) carries his ongoing exploration of text, presence, and philosophy into a distilled reflection on awareness and existence.

The piece presents a white surface pierced by a stark black arrow, pinning into permanence the phrase: “RECOGNITION IS AT THE HEART OF BEING.” The statement suggests that existence itself is not simply about living, but about the awareness of life—the recognition of presence, self, and interconnectedness as the essence of what it means to be.

The arrow serves as both metaphor and punctuation. Its strike gives weight to the idea, embodying the suddenness of realization, the way recognition often arrives sharply, cutting through the noise of thought. The act of piercing transforms the phrase from abstract philosophy into a physical confrontation, making recognition not only a concept but a lived experience.

Typography is bold and unornamented, asserting authority while keeping the focus entirely on the message. The black-on-white palette is reductive yet potent, underscoring Martin’s commitment to stripping away distraction so that meaning and material presence resonate fully.

In Recognition Is at the Heart of Being, Martin encapsulates the foundation of his text-sculptural practice: the interplay between word, object, and awareness. The piece functions simultaneously as artwork and mantra, reminding the viewer that to recognize—to truly see and acknowledge—is to touch the core of existence itself.

13.5in x 7in x 17in
Ink on Paper + Wood Arrow