It is a wonderful feeling to come back in time remembering near and far journeys. With each face of the people we have met, senses playback so much of the elusive: lighting, scent, mood, taste, colour, tone. All of the once unknown facets get familiarized, become parts of us, evoke nostalgia through recollection. Even though at the very beginning we may fear for the unknown, with time we get carried away by the whirlwind of the events and hop on into the whale's mouth.
Inspired by Joseph Campbell's work, his theory of the monomyth, I decided to create a series of paintings titled "36 Insights" - a follow up to Campbell's "Hero of a Thousand Faces".
It is going to be a series portraying people and figures both real and beknowned in the farthest nooks of the dream world. The series shows exceptional and ordinary people at the same time, each of whom, accepting the "call to a journey", becomes or may become a hero, transcending his ego and uniting himself in a world without categories.
I am yet to find out how much time shall this endeavour consume and whether the accomplishment would be satisfactory, which is of secondary importance anyway.
Inspired by Joseph Campbell's work, his theory of the monomyth, I decided to create a series of paintings titled "36 Insights" - a follow up to Campbell's "Hero of a Thousand Faces".
It is going to be a series portraying people and figures both real and beknowned in the farthest nooks of the dream world. The series shows exceptional and ordinary people at the same time, each of whom, accepting the "call to a journey", becomes or may become a hero, transcending his ego and uniting himself in a world without categories.
I am yet to find out how much time shall this endeavour consume and whether the accomplishment would be satisfactory, which is of secondary importance anyway.
In the gallery below, some of the portraits are accompanied by photos I took while traveling, referring to the places where I had the chance to meet the heroes of my works, thus giving the whole series a "reportage" character.
"There can be no question: the psychological dangers through which earlier generations were guided by the symbols and spiritual exercises of their mythological and religious inheritance, we today ( in so far as we are unbelievers, or, if believers, in so far as our inherited beliefs fail to represent the real problems of contemporary life) must face alone, or, at best, with only tentative, impromptu, and not often very effective guidance. This is our problem as modern, "enlightened" individuals, for whom all gods and devils have been rationalized out of existence. Nevertheless, in the multitude of myths and legends that have been preserved to us, or collected from the ends of the earth, we may yet see delineated something of our still human course."
- Joseph Campbell
lonely sailboat in the caribbean sea off the coast of Panama
In the hammock - No. 4 out of "36 insights". 70x70. Oil on canvas.
Universal Mother - No. 5 out of "36 Insights" - 70x70. Acrylic on canvas
Panama, Casco Viejo
Back to nature - No. 6 out of "36 insights". 70x70. Acrylic on canvas.
Ready for the journey - No. 7 out of "36 insights". 70x50. Oil on canvas.
Mexico on site of Chacchoben Mayan ruins - a fragment of a thirsty land, our beloved Mother
Everyone has their own journey. What is yours?
Between - No. 8 out of "36 Insights". 80x60. Oil on linen.
What interests me and what I strive for, is living in an authentic way and in harmony with myself. And although sometimes it is not convenient, it is full of "mistakes" and often requires even betraying the generally accepted authorities, I trust that it allows you to rise above the symbolic "Waste Land" and to realize the highest spiritual potentials of human consciousness.
And just like the legendary Grail, according to ancient tales, was brought the middle way to Earth by Neutral Angels, so I want to look for it between pairs of opposites, between fear and desire, good and evil.
"(...) This is where forces then flow, from that of duality they must come to unity and lead people a little bit forward again in the development of the world". (R. Steiner)
And just like the legendary Grail, according to ancient tales, was brought the middle way to Earth by Neutral Angels, so I want to look for it between pairs of opposites, between fear and desire, good and evil.
"(...) This is where forces then flow, from that of duality they must come to unity and lead people a little bit forward again in the development of the world". (R. Steiner)
Looking forward - No. 11 out of "36 insights". 80x60. Oil on canvas.
Paradise bird. Turkey.
I met her in Turkey. She said: "I’m 16 years old and both of my parents are from Palestine, Gaza but I live in Germany. I play since 6 years piano and love to make music as well as traveling around the world. I travel a lot to experience new places and cultures. My favorite country is Palestine, my homeland. I wish I could visit one day Jerusalem to see the beauty of the holly land. But the occupation prevents Palestinian to go there. I like to share happiness and joy to everybody to spread positivity around my place no matter in which circumstances we are. At least a smile costs nothing :)"
Ariadne's Thread - No. 13 out of "36 Insights". 80x60. Oil on linen.
It's a symbolic portrait referring to the mythological figure of Ariadne.
Returning with my thoughts to the myth of Theseus and Ariadne...
... I see a picture of the terrible Minotaur that the king of Crete locks up in a labyrinth. Could it be that Minos, knowing what the reasons were behind the birth of a monster, wants to hide from himself
and the world the tormenting remorse of his own conscience?
... I see Daedalus - a genius architect, an almost diabolical figure, impartial and faithful to the moral principles of his art, who allows themselves to reveal the psychological motives of the mythical heroes. The same Daedalus, at the request of Minos, creates a maze with no exit,
then equips Ariadne with a ball of thread that leads to freedom.
... I see Ariadne who, driven by her love for Theseus, does not remain
passive.
Is it possible that in order to be with the world, one should turn inward, kill oneself and return the same path, towards unity?
Is it possible that the solution, without which our efforts would prove futile, is so simple and we only need to notice it?
... I see a picture of the terrible Minotaur that the king of Crete locks up in a labyrinth. Could it be that Minos, knowing what the reasons were behind the birth of a monster, wants to hide from himself
and the world the tormenting remorse of his own conscience?
... I see Daedalus - a genius architect, an almost diabolical figure, impartial and faithful to the moral principles of his art, who allows themselves to reveal the psychological motives of the mythical heroes. The same Daedalus, at the request of Minos, creates a maze with no exit,
then equips Ariadne with a ball of thread that leads to freedom.
... I see Ariadne who, driven by her love for Theseus, does not remain
passive.
Is it possible that in order to be with the world, one should turn inward, kill oneself and return the same path, towards unity?
Is it possible that the solution, without which our efforts would prove futile, is so simple and we only need to notice it?
