Atlas Aureus
2021
Developing further the themes of both the Atlas Obscura series, the works here perpetuate the continued narrative of praeternatural realms, which act as visual allegories pertaining to a person’s theory of reality and the determination of what they (the viewer) believe to be conceivable. The ancients believed in a universe of spirits and deities, of personified nature and the cosmos, and of exotic creatures. Their stories, punctuated with such realities, seemed credible to them and defined their perceptions or observations of the everyday world around them.
Where there is mystery and the unknown, humans have created countless stories and scenarios to make sense of what lies beyond the known; humans have projected meanings onto the unknown. Caves are prevalent images in the world of myths, legends, and cults. Myth, through awe and wonder, allows our mind to embrace the realms of the possible, the undiscovered and the transcendent.
Employing image-editing software, layers of digitally generated impressions are superimposed to create one definitive image, which is subsequently printed on brass. This leads to a visual formation akin to photomontage. The process is then completed by hand-drawn motifs in wax pastels to further illustrate an atmospheric realm, evoking elements of other-worldly characterisations.
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On a more subliminal note: the construct of the cave in both the Atlas Obscura and Atlas Aureus series alludes to a metaphorical portrayal which illustrates the cave as the embodiment of the soul. And as one ventures into the depth and darkness of the unknown and unseeable, one may find the beauty of truth and meaning deep within oneself through observation and contemplation.