The Sun Thieves

This silk artwork is inspired by a sequence of dreams that the designer had during the fall of 2021. The dreams loosely compose a storyline labeled: The Sun Thieves. On the southern fringes of the continent lies a rugged and rocky land cut off from the outside world, inhabited by hardy people that were known for their piracy and violent nature. In their piratical greed, they set sail from their rocky coves to reach the land of the Sun on the other side of the horizon and steal it. In their successful attempt, they managed to capture the Sun and imprison it within a deep cave in their remote mountains. The world was plunged into darkness and was to remain so. Aeons later an old sage in search of wisdom stumbled up the sun’s cave and gazed straight into it. While his eyes melted away he experienced ultimate being. Ever since, he travels the world crazy, blinded, and wise. The visual language references the unique ‘pagan’ iconography of Byzantine and post-Byzantine churches found in the region of Mani, Greece, as well as renaissance lino-cut and tarot art. Greek folk and apotropaic symbolism are prevalent throughout the piece combined with elements of naive art. The overall atmosphere is one of mysticism and magic.