COMPLETION: ARTISTIC TRANSMUTATION by Eduardo Rosas A Statement in Support of Thesis Exhibition Submitted to the Faculty of The Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Fine Arts Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, Florida August 2014 ABSTRACT Author: Eduardo Rosas Title: Completion: Artistic Transmutation Institution: Florida Atlantic University Thesis Advisor: Walter Hnatysh Degree: Master of Fine Arts Year: 2014 Symbols connect our deepest thoughts with our senses. This thesis explores the Alchemical symbols, developed by mythical deity Hermes Trismegistus, whose symbols remnant of geometric shapes represent the classical elements of Earth, Water, Fire and Air. Watercolor, graphite, and gesso are my primary materials as they can be manipulated by the classical element of water. With this, I can create representations of the symbols through the language of drawing. The audience is invited to open their thoughts and all senses to the Alchemical symbols and the distinctive forms that appear from the visual mixture of the materials. iii COMPLETION: ARTISTIC TRANSMUTATION LIST OF PLATES ....................................................................................................v CHAPTER 1. KNOWLEDGE OF THE ANCIENT MYSTERIES ........................................1 1.1 Alchemy..................................................................................................1 1.2 Hermes Trismegistus ..............................................................................3 1.3 Alchemical Symbols ...............................................................................4 2. THREE PHASES OF ARTISTIC TRANSMUTATION ................................7 2.1 Phase 1 of Artistic Transmutation...........................................................7 2.2 Phase 2 of Artistic Transmutation...........................................................9 2.3 Phase 3 of Artistic Transmutation.........................................................11 3. COMPLETION.............................................................................................14 3.1 Thesis ....................................................................................................14 3.2 Process ...................................................................................................15 3.3 Understanding........................................................................................18 3.4 Influences...............................................................................................20 3.5 Conclusion .............................................................................................24 4. REFERENCES ..............................................................................................32 iv LIST OF PLATES Plates I. Alchemy chart..................................................................................................5 II. “Viridarium chymicum”..................................................................................6 III. Watercolor, ink on paper, 2009.......................................................................7 IV. Watercolor, ink on folded paper, 2012 ............................................................9 V. Study in Clay, 2012........................................................................................11 VI. Step by step process.......................................................................................15 VII. Water, 2013 ...................................................................................................18 VIII. “Sphinx”........................................................................................................20 IX. Water detail, 2013..........................................................................................21 X. “Weights and Measures”................................................................................22 XI. Earth detail, 2013..........................................................................................23 XII. “Sun” .............................................................................................................25 XIII. “Moon”..........................................................................................................26 XIV. “Air”..............................................................................................................27 XV. “Earth”...........................................................................................................28 XVI. “Fire” ............................................................................................................29 XVII. “Water”.........................................................................................................30 XVIII. “Androgyny..................................................................................................31 v 1. KNOWLEDGE OF THE ANCIENT MYSTERIES 1.1 Alchemy Alchemy is a dual subject that shares aspects of both science and theosophy. It is the practice of modifying a common substance of little value into a substance of great value. A scientific example is the early practices of chemistry Renaissance painters explored when mixing their oil pigments. They created one of the oil colors, ultramarine blue from a common substance, lapis lazuli. The material lapis lazuli, is a blue metamorphic rock mostly made up of a materialized limestone called Lazurite and has been esteemed for its rich color. This stone has been mined in the Northeastern part of Afghanistan as early as the 7th millennium BC. Renaissance painters wishing to have this pigment at their disposal to paint with had to extract the pigment themselves. The first part of the process consisted of grinding the stone by hand. Once the grinding of the stone was completed, the ground lapis lazuli would then be mixed with melted wax, resins, and oils. That mixture would then be wrapped with a cloth and kneaded under a solution of potassium carbonate. As a result of kneading the wrapped mixture under the potassium carbonate solution, the blue particles from the mixture are extracted while the grime is attached to the combined body of wax, resin, and oil. Finally, the extracted pigment is combined with linseed oil, which is 1 an oil pressed from dried flax seeds, to produce paint that is feasible to paint with. The second aspect of Alchemy that is coupled with its scientific counterpart is Theosophy. This system of thought is concerned with the investigation of the mysteries of life and divinity. Alchemists or anyone who practices the subject in its theosophical form is in search of Gnosis. Gnosis is the ability to have the profound understanding of how the universe works and the background of humanity. Those who posses this understanding have keen insight on where they are from, who they are, and what their future will be. I was inspired to choose this as my topic because I’ve had a profound interest in philosophy and esoteric studies. I grew up in a strong religious household and God was always part of every conversation while I was growing up. I attended mass every Sunday and I went to a catholic school up until the very age of fourteen. As I got older my grandmother, who was a very important figure in my life and devotedly religious, grew ill then eventually passed away from colon cancer. The death of my grandmother caused me to question the existence of God, life in its entirety and my own existence. Her death put me face to face with the duality of life and death. That lesson of duality was the catalyst that sparked my search for Gnosis. Before attending graduate school I was versed in philosophical readings and esoteric studies. While attending graduate school a peer of mine suggested I read, The Alchemist by Paulo Cohelo. That book had a profound impact on my 2 life and from that point forward I started to research Alchemy and its origins. Upon my research on the subject of Alchemy I came across Hermes Trismegistus, The Seven Hermetic Principles and the Alchemical symbols that depict the classical elements of Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Androgyny. 1.2 Hermes Trismegistus Hermes Trismegistus is a mythical deity. However, just as alchemy contains dual aspects, so does Hermes Trismegistus. It is said that the mythical deity is a combination of Thoth-the Egyptian God of wisdom and also the inventor of script, magic and other sciences including Alchemy. Thoth also acts as the balance of harmony between the cosmos and Earth. He also had many followers in the early ages of Egypt and the principal center to which they all gathered and worshipped was the city of Hermopolis. Hermes, the Greek counterpart, is the messenger of the Gods. Like Thoth, Hermes acts as the intermediary between the living and the dead. Both Gods were guided for souls in the afterlife, also known as psychopoms. Trismegistus directly translates to “triple hero”, or “thrice wise”. This trinity is implicated into his name because he is said to know the three parts of wisdom of the entire universe. The three parts of wisdom of the universe are Alchemy, Astrology, and Theurgy. Theurgy is the practice of rituals that evoke an open communication between followers and the divine such as the way Catholics perform the sign of the cross and place there hands together in prayer. The true sources of Hermes origins are a 3 mystery. It is unknown if Hermes Trismegistus ever took on human form or remained as deity of worship for his followers. All that remains