Description
Acrylic on Board
54 x 54 cm
Neophytes Fire, an acrylic on board from 2016, measuring 54 x 54 cm, stands as one of the artists foundational works, capturing a pivotal moment of initiation and the awakening of primal forces. In this
painting, a hieroglyphic neophyte – a figure on the threshold of profound understanding, depicted as a part-human, part-animal figure – engages with or charms a snake, a timeless symbol of ancient knowledge and transformative power and primal forces. This strange ritual unfolds before a cosmic fire.
The scene is set against a vast galactic backdrop, elevating this intimate encounter to a cosmological stage – one that stretches beyond human life into the mythic and galactic. This cosmic setting underscores the universal nature of the neophyte’s journey, suggesting that the quest for self-discovery is deeply intertwined with the grand rhythms of the universe.
Painted on a rough, found board, the work carries the rawness of beginnings. The makeshift quality of the surface speaks to a developmental stage, a fitting place for the neophyte, and tells a story of an early, uncertain stage of knowledge and craft – both in the figure’s journey and in the artist’s own. It is a worknmade not under perfect conditions, but in the earnest, hungry spirit of learning. Neophytes Fire is a visual exploration of the nascent stages of psychic integration, where the individual begins to consciously engage with the potent, instinctual energies of the unconscious. At its heart, it is about the courage
required to begin, honoring those first creative acts when the way is not yet clear, but the spark of becoming is strong. It is a testament to the enduring power of ancient wisdom and the transformative fire
that ignites within us as we step onto the path of self-realization.
