Dear Friends…
I have been told by the Substack Gods that this post exceeds length for Emails, Mea Culpa, Mea Culpa. It is worth looking at on site, if you can.
So, this is a bit of a retrospective on a continuing theme in my art, the Vimana. I first became cognizant of the Vimana through this book, Morning of the Magicians, back in 1968/69. (Loved the cover art! Mati Klarwein a true Surrealist if there ever was one)
Within this amazing book was a description of the Vimana (first described in the Ramayana from what I gather) later finding references to them in the Vedas, as well as the Vaimānika Śāstra (वैमानिक शास्त्र which may have been the source for the reportage in “The Morning of the Magicians”.
I was captivated by the idea of ancient flying craft. After having witnessed possible similar crafts in the mountains of Colorado and Northern California I was intrigued by reports going back to 7th Century BCE from India. It was fascinating that different cultures had reported quite the same phenomena over the millennia.
The theme now has been present in my work for 21-22 years. There are large gaps in the timeline, but I do come back to it over time. Most of the original pieces didn’t have names. On rethinking, I will be applying names to pieces that have seemingly called out for it.
The last couple of years has produced several pieces. The newest first and then working back through time:
“ Vimana/”The Alchemists’ Daughter”
The most very recent piece. Having been on hiatus from doing art on the computer, concentrating on Acrylics and Pencil work. This was a return to digital works. It touches on a recurring theme outside of the Vimana Series (The Alchemical Experience/Schools).
“The Varanasi Vimana”
Before he died, my friend Jim Harter sent me two books printed in Germany (1846) of lithographic illustrations of India. This piece came out of those books. I started the Vimana series some 20 years ago. One of those ongoing things, thought processes that just kind of happens. This piece of course is a nod to The Ramayana and other sources of the Vimana story/mythology. A return to source, as one would have it.
Vimana/The River
This one came about as a lark and ended up in the Invisible College Review. Again, it touches on the Rennaissance influence that has been working through my collage works for the last several years.
Vimana VI/Ziggurat
A piece from 2013, the most recent of the Vimana pieces based in deep antiquity. A merging of West Asian & North African influences in my art. At one time I wondered what this would have been if there were a colour pallete adapted to it. Then of course, the night often seems to be a spectacle of black and white contrast.
Vimana VII/”The Nile” (“Shore” was the working title and then the realization hit that there was an earlier piece with the same name)
This is the hypaethral Temple at Philae (the bed of the Pharoah). Technically there are some problems with this piece (Thanks to George Post for pointing them out.) Still, it has atmosphere, that I still appreciate.
Vimana V/At the Tomb of a Sufi Saint
Second in the variant stage of the illustration of the Vimana. These two pieces were constructed during intense entheogenic explorations of Tryptamine Space/DMT (and variants from South America/Central America. The crystalline structure of the Vimana is a nod to entities encountered during that time period.
Vimana IV/Close Encounters, of every kind
1st of 2 variants on a theme. If I recall correctly, this piece took a better part of 2 weeks of work. There is much I would have done differently if I were working on this now. It still sings to me though; it stands out in the series as a complete departure from what went before.
Vimana III
See this is what I am talking about in titling. Numbering them is much easier; in that I wanted to avoid coming up with something hokey. (yes, that is a problem!) Composition wise, this one is a bit of an oddity, mixing colour with black & white illustration. You would think that the foreground was more conducive to colour… I was very excited about the clouds in this one. Working on the clouds was quite enjoyable. First time I had put so much thought to this part of an illustration.
Vimana/The Shore
This piece was a joy to work on. Multiple layers, gradients and composition challenges. Not very original with titling, especially when on repeats with a similar label for another piece later on. Titling is a struggle at times. The piece has a dynamic and depth flow that works IMO.
Vimana II
This was an odd one... 2nd in the series and it seriously mixes influences up. It was pointed out that Mayan architecture and angels were an odd juxtaposition. Granted, it is but this is collage after all! I wanted a feeling of disassociation in the final piece.
Vimana I
This was created after I had reread “Morning of the Magicians” If India, why not Egypt rattled around my brain for a few days before sitting down to work on this. It stands out among the works, still a favourite after all of these years. Particularly fond of the colourization. This is a palette that emerges again and again in the various pieces done over the years.
Thank you for viewing these!
Gwyllm
If you are interested in any of these pieces, there is a sale on at Gwyllm-Art.Com For a short time you can obtain an 8.5x11 piece for 20.00USD inclusive of shipping. 13x19 are 55.00 inclusive of shipping. Over Seas Prices are listed on the site. All pieces signed and titled!
____
Here is a video put together by Liba Stambollion over in France. Her book arrived the other day, and she reviews it nicely. I have never been very good at self promotion… And really appreciate her work on this!
If it delights you, please consider ordering it here: Alcove of Dreams
A nice review video from Liba Stambollion!
Thanks for visiting!
Gwyllm