This series of drawings is a reflection of my interest in symbols, archetypes, patterns, and the universal connections that exist within them. Through these works, I explore these themes with a circular and spherical motif as a signifier.
The circle is a universal symbol of wholeness, eternity, and timelessness, of birth and growth or the sense of decline and death, the circle is a powerful and evocative image. It implies this idea of movement but stillness too and symbolises the cycle of time, the perpetual motion of everything that moves, the planets' journey around the sun, and the great rhythm of the universe.
In Jungian psychology, it indicates the end of the process of individuation, of striving toward psychic wholeness and self-realisation.
In these drawings, I used the well-known Middle Eastern word and the triangle talisman of ‘Abracadabra’ as a framework for showing my 66 drawings.
Abracadabra’ is a fascinating phrase that has lasted for 1000 years (maybe more) over much of the world. This symbol with the word decreasing as it reaches the final letter appears as simplicity and yet is complicated and ancient in its meanings.
Here are some theories on its source:
* It’s from the Aramaic phrase avra kehdabra, meaning “I will create as I speak”.
* The source is three Hebrew words, ab (father), ben (son), and ruach acadosch (holy spirit).
* It originated with a Gnostic sect in Alexandria called the Basilidians and was probably based on Abrasax, the name of their supreme deity (Abraxas in Latin sources).
I have always had a strong desire for change which manifests in the diversity of my artwork and the places I have called home. This constant desire for difference and stimulation, flow, flux, and movement, feels like a physical need and imperative for my creative development.
This same need to explore and encounter the unknown has meant that travel has been a big part of my life for the last 20 years or so. I have set up makeshift studios in many different places and cultures, producing work directly from my environment. My Abracadabra works are an example of these travel-inspired works.
Every one of the original 66 Abracadabra drawings is influenced by or leads to other more significant works such as paintings or sculptures. Most were completed whilst travelling 2016 - 2019 and at home during covid, taking 5 years to complete by December 2022.
The Stages of the Abracadabra Project 2017- 2023
Click image to open collection
