A special exhibition to celebrate the release of the final volume in Orryelle’s series of Alchemical art books The Tela Quadrivium from UK esoteric fine art publishers Fulgur Limited.
Private view Thursday 25th from 6.30 to 9.30
For eight years Orryelle worked only in black and white (with touches of gold and silver) for the previous volumes in the series (CONJUNCTIO 2008, COAGULA 2011, SOLVE 2012 – all sold out), but in the last few years he has been exploring the alchemy of Colour in diverse media for the culminating book Distillatio.
Distillatio explores the Colour phase of Alchemy, the ‘Cauda Pavonis’ or Peacock’s Tail, and also the related Albedo or White phase. From this purified essence splits a vivid spectrum of colours.
The originals presented in this exhibition explore the alchemy of colour in a diverse array of media, from semi-digital (incorporating photography by the artist) and gouache to large oils on canvas with gold, silver and copper leaf, also employing egg tempera for the Renaissance Misch-technique, including the artist’s own new spin on the method using peacock-egg tempera to literalise an alchemical symbol with potent results. The various media have been applied with a diverse approach, ranging from figurative work in the rich Symbolist tradition to more contemporary expressionism and a post-modern collage approach. Some of Orryelle’s related limited edition bronze sculptures – Murtis charged as houses for deities- will also be included in the exhibition.
The concepts behind the work are as diverse as the media and application -drawing on the symbology of western and eastern mystery traditions via diverse mythologies, from Hindu Tantra and Ancient Egyptian to Sumerian, Mayan, Norse, Celtic and Greek, drawing strands of connection between them yet ever mindful also of their differences, and their continuing relevance today. With Distillatio Orryelle affirms his position in the vanguard of the current resurgence in Esoteric Artists balanced between the conceptual and the aesthetic.
Each volume of the Tela Quadrivium series connects into a multi-directional and spiraling narrative of images, symbols and text to form a greater whole which has now been distilled into completion. As the culminating volume of the Tela Quadrivium, Distillatio provides the reader with the final pieces in an intricate esoteric puzzle, bringing together the book-web entire.
A quarter of the works for Distillatio have already been sold to private collectors (one of the major canvases will be on display at this exhibition for the final time before going to its buyer) but the rest will be available for purchase, as well as some of the remaining drawings from previous volumes of the Tela Quadrivium, limited edition prints and of course the new book.
Thurs 25th June: Opening Night and Book-Launch. 6.30 to 9.30. The artist will give a short talk on the work and be present to sign books and artwork.
Sat 27th June: PERFORMANCE NIGHT. 7.30 to 10. Featuring new ritual music (violin, voice, loop pedals) and dance by Orryelle related to the work; with accompaniment from Akoustic Timbre Frekuency (percussion and singing bowls).
Plus Raagnagrok synth and sitar duo. Full details HERE
IMAGE CREDITS :
Ganesha in the Book-web Lotus.
From the Opening of Distillatio: The corresponding pages of the four volumes of the Tela Quadrivium which feature the union of MahaKala-Shiva and Maha Kali-Shakti. The upward male and downward female red triangles over Their murtis unite to form the Hexagram, Yantra of their child Ganesh, and their extended tongues unfold to reveal Him in the Lotus.
Detail from ‘Melek Taus and the Path of Venus’: Oils, peacock-egg tempera, copper, silver and gold leaf, snakeskin.
‘Quebesenuef’ – gouache, watercolour pencils and gold leaf.
Guardians of the West: The Hawk-headed Son of Horus whose head is the lid of the Canopic Jar containing the Intestines in Ancient Egyptian embalming practises, and the medicinal poisons of the Scorpion-Goddess Serket.
