Every story has its origin, and every creation begins with a spark. Light and Relic is more than an art project – it is a personal exploration told through a card that has accompanied me to this day: the Arknight Shard from the trading card game Flesh and Blood.
Who I Was – and What Happened
In 2011, I served as a soldier in Afghanistan and narrowly survived. After my deployment, I worked as an international photographer in New York, collaborating with renowned names in the industry. Yet post-traumatic stress disorder abruptly ended my career.
You can also read more about the artist behind Light and Relic
There were times when PTSD brought me to the edge of losing almost everything safety, career, even a roof over my head. In those moments, even my passion for collecting and playing cards seemed close to vanishing.
Why the Arknight Shard
The Arknight Shard was more than just a collectible. It became a symbol of holding on, even when I was close to letting go of everything else. At a time when survival was more urgent than money or possessions, I almost parted with it but I didn’t.
Today, it stands as more than a rare card. It reminds me that some things are worth keeping, even in the darkest of times.
What I Aim to Do with Light and Relic
Through Light and Relic, I have begun to transform this personal story into an artistic work. The Arknight Shard was photographed and “re-forged” in the forge of artist-blacksmith Andreas Rimkus
a symbolic act of transformation that gave the card meaning far beyond the game.
This project is my way of telling my story through art:
translating biography into imagery, intertwining personal experience, community, and craft into a contemporary relic.
Outlook
This is the first part of a series. In upcoming posts, I will share how the Arknight Shard was transformed into a relic, the role of community pioneers, the creation of a multi-layered provenance, and the visual language of light and shadow.
Step by step, Light and Relic unfolds into more than just a story about cards and art – it is about memory, transformation, and the value of holding on.