1. Evoking the Numinous
I was strongly attracted to the elegance and simplicity of these pieces of Cycladic art. Crafted at the dawn of European history, in the third millennium BC, they were found in the group of small Greek islands in the southern Aegean known as the Cyclades.
Figurines like these are usually denigrated to being simply “fertility goddesses.” But they were actually much more. In this case, they accompanied her people through their transition to her other realm. Found in burial sites, within a culture where time moved in cycles, not a terminating line--regeneration immediately followed death. (See Marija Gimbutas, The Living Goddesses.)
Maybe the figurine on the right is raising a toast “to life.” What do you think?
I chose to add an azure-colored stone for an eye, a strong focal point accentuating the simplicity of her face. She only had a nose. I can’t help but think this is due to her divine intuition--“She simply knows.” That’s all she really needs! The tulips, or “two lips,” which are fragile, ephemeral, yet passionately red, add contrast to these ancient white marble carvings.
I initially intended to cut off the tulips extending over the edges of the 11x14 background to matt and frame the piece. But I decided the image was much more interesting left as is, so I mounted it in a float frame. This may be a new trend for me.
NOTE: It is shown here with a blue back ground for photo purposes only-- it works best in a float frame between two pieces of glass