Marek Buchwald
Song of the Deep
Oil on Canvas, 24k gold ink,
silver, and copper leaf
silver, and copper leaf
51 x 101 in
130 x 255 cm
130 x 255 cm
GG1814
Further images
“Song of The Deep” This work is inspired by the Gayatri, a hymn from Rig Veda, the oldest known Sanskrit literature. The Gayatri is an invocation to The Creator to...
“Song of The Deep”
This work is inspired by the Gayatri, a hymn from Rig Veda, the oldest known Sanskrit literature. The Gayatri is an invocation to The Creator to begin Creation. The five elements of the physical world, and the three elements of the subtle psychic world (mind, intelligence , ego) are represented in their primordial forms: the sound of their Sanskrit names.
The colors represent the five physical elements,
fire : red and luminous orange
water: green for waters that allow for all growing plants
air: blue forever moving
ether: black for deep space of either.
The skull in the center of the composition represents the earth element’s most condensed form of energy, the foundation… the bones of creation.
The blossoming lotus above the skull represents intelligence.
Contemplation of this image of the mantra produces peaceful awareness of one’s true being, known in Sanskrit as Atma.
• My creative process involves five steps:
1. Original watercolor calligraphic composition of the sacred text, (like a "sketch").
2. I continue to develop the composition using digital media.
3. Transfer of the digital painting to canvas Giclee (archival inks),which I supervise closely.(this is the "under-painting")
4. Illuminating the whole canvas with pure gold-leaf, silver-leaf and copper-leaf.
5. Repainting the entire canvas with oil paint, metallic paint, and markers (for very small detail) and
6. Final varnish to preserve the metallic elements.
As you can see, while the print element is there, it is the smallest part of the process,
while the "hand work" is by far the greater!
This work is inspired by the Gayatri, a hymn from Rig Veda, the oldest known Sanskrit literature. The Gayatri is an invocation to The Creator to begin Creation. The five elements of the physical world, and the three elements of the subtle psychic world (mind, intelligence , ego) are represented in their primordial forms: the sound of their Sanskrit names.
The colors represent the five physical elements,
fire : red and luminous orange
water: green for waters that allow for all growing plants
air: blue forever moving
ether: black for deep space of either.
The skull in the center of the composition represents the earth element’s most condensed form of energy, the foundation… the bones of creation.
The blossoming lotus above the skull represents intelligence.
Contemplation of this image of the mantra produces peaceful awareness of one’s true being, known in Sanskrit as Atma.
• My creative process involves five steps:
1. Original watercolor calligraphic composition of the sacred text, (like a "sketch").
2. I continue to develop the composition using digital media.
3. Transfer of the digital painting to canvas Giclee (archival inks),which I supervise closely.(this is the "under-painting")
4. Illuminating the whole canvas with pure gold-leaf, silver-leaf and copper-leaf.
5. Repainting the entire canvas with oil paint, metallic paint, and markers (for very small detail) and
6. Final varnish to preserve the metallic elements.
As you can see, while the print element is there, it is the smallest part of the process,
while the "hand work" is by far the greater!