During his school years, David excelled at art and gained recognition for his liberating use of large canvases and bright vivid colours gaining some local acclaim by winning the PASCODI Design Awards for Excellence. Wanting to pursue a creative career, he attended the prestigious school of Architecture at the University of Cape Town and graduated in visual design from one of Africa's leading digital design schools. After a career as a web designer, his quest for inner peace and spiritual healing took him to Jerusalem to study Theology with Qabbalists and Asia to absorb the wisdom of Taoist healers Master Chen and Mantak Chia and Buddhist monk Ajahn Brahm.
David became interested in the mind-body connection over 20 years' ago, due to being affected by various stress-related conditions. His exploration included meditation, yoga, and qigong. He found that body-awareness practices alongside changing his diet had a profound effect on his health. His passion for wellness practices led to his qualifying as a Naturopath, graduating with a health-science degree in 2009.
In 2019, he suffered from severe injuries (multiple fractures) as a result from falling from a mountain bike whilst in Vietnam. He had to undergo a long period in hospital and surgeries. During his recovery, he began exploring various temples and documenting his recovery in visual form. David's art-work became his therapy and enhanced his ability to tolerate pain and improved his mental health.
His art career has shifted and evolved over time from an expressionist angle to express geometric light-codes and temple portal structures. He moves between the solid and the transcendent, with reverence to the divinity within.
This current series examines our 'outsider-in' mentality of looking at the world as an 'outsider' - as he was essentially isolated at home and unable to move around much. He created temple facades as an outsider, and then sought to step inside the temple gateways, thus the art is used as a portal for spiritual evolution and accessing higher consciousness.
David's many influences include:
1. Contemplation, prayer, meditation, and sustained sacred work
2. African crafts and design - use of decoration
3. Architecture - particularly African and Middle Eastern design
Each spiritual art-work is designed as a meditation, and each work stands alone or in context of others.
David currently lives in Queensland, Australia. In future he plans to create each temple as a theme, which can then be explored visually, musically and meditatively with spiritual wisdom and lessons being attached. Each art-work will act as a portal or gateway to reach higher states and access a shift in consciousness.
David shares his soul and his own personal journey through his vivid art-works.
Please follow David on INSTAGRAM @davidstarlyte
Original Art @ www.davidstarlyte.com