This work came out of a channel/trance state when in a very active pattern of preparing for my 2020 November exhibition. I often neglect to document early iterations of works as the arranging happens, but not in this case. I let this piece rest for a while. I knew I had to leverage the gold and black chevron, it was very attractive. I also appreciated the overt David Lynch motif, immediately signaling an occult affair.
A quick aside regarding an intentional selection: chevrons are among the most primitive and ancient markings of cross cultural human expression, mainly thought to depict flowing water.
The earlier draft version gave too much prominence to the embellished crown of the figure, blossoms erupting in triumph, dualistic toned love birds heralding the presence of this being. This felt too aggrandizing. To me, the original editorialized haute couture styling spoke more of being in service, a potent silence. If I recall, at this time I was mildly fixated on the hierarchical Order of angels known as Thrones. I wanted this work to more directly reference this biblical apocrypha, and found the most prime order instead: Seraphim.
In the final composition of Seraph Walk With Me, the lovebirds and crowning flowers were altered to become two of three pairs of wings, as these being were described in Isaiah 6:2–6 as having six wings: two to cover their face, two to fly with, and two to cover their feet. The final third pair is that of white wings, behind the fiery halo that interweaves the icon. Four sacred elementally coded butterflies attend the figure, circling clockwise in perpetuity. Also a reference to how their sibling order Cherubim are sometimes described as having four faces, that of an ox, eagle, lion, and human.
This Seraph stands aside to the left with a veil parted, permitting a gaze into deep into the primordial waters of creation. From the carved canyon, either immeasurable time or force carved the canyon that receives now only a teasing trickle, yet still nonetheless enough to pool and slake the thirst of a dry, dry land.
Feeling brazen? Looking to escape the viper nest of doom scrolling?
Slither in to some further reading:
1.) De Coelesti Hierarchia
2.) On Ophanim
3.) On Neolithic Pottery of the Fertile Crescent
4.) Marija Gimbutas Collection at the Opus Archives
As always,
Much love.
-Ian Babylon.