SEA-MULATIONS: PRESENTATION

7 series of artworks
   

Introduction

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"Free man, you shall forever cherish the sea!
The sea is your mirror; you contemplate your soul
in the infinite unfolding of its wave,
and your spirit is not a less bitter abyss."

These words by Charles Baudelaire resonate as an invitation to explore the sea, a symbol of the unknown, the mysterious, and the manifold dimensions of existence.

The paintings in my collection, "SEA-MULATIONS", present the sea as a metaphor for life: a journey of trials and dreams, oscillating between hope and turbulence. This collection is an ode to freedom, new beginnings, and the search for meaning.

Inspiration Behind the Collection

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The sea has always been a profound source of inspiration for me. Its waters, sometimes calm and reassuring - symbols of hope when dawn breaks on the horizon or a sunset seems to embrace the waves - sometimes surge with untamed, tempestuous energy, embodying the highs and lows of human existence. My fascination with the ocean is a blend of allure and trepidation: drawn to its boundless beauty yet awed by its unfathomable, unpredictable nature.

In my collection "SEA-MULATIONS", the sea becomes a metaphor for our ephemeral lives, a notion hinted at in the wordplay of its title. Like the tides, life is cyclical, marked by storms and clear skies, by unceasing motion that compels us to seek horizons, destinations, or simply meaning.

My paintings narrate this voyage, with its challenges, life’s tempests, and its triumphs. This is why I often associate the human spirit with a sailboat.

The Symbolism of the Sea and Sailboats

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In my collection, every element - waves, sailboats, light, and shadow - carries potent symbolism. Sailboats, driven by the wind, represent humanity navigating the ocean of life, searching for direction and meaning, a lighthouse to guide them through the dark, a glimmer of light on the horizon, an island to rest or rebuild—a haven away from turbulent waters.

Though abstract, my paintings frequently evoke:

• Solitary journeys: Some boats drift alone on a vast, empty sea, representing moments of introspection and solitude necessary to find one’s path.
• Partnerships: Other sailboats travel in pairs, embodying love, companionship, and the shared trials and joys of life.
• Regattas: Entire fleets racing over the waves symbolize human relationships and the social competitions that shape our existence.

Islands, on the other hand, represent sanctuaries - pauses along life’s journey. Inspired by Celtic legends, they evoke the pursuit of the unattainable, a dream of a lost paradise, or a well-deserved respite. The Hyperborean island, for example, emerges as a distant beacon, guiding souls in search of solace and purpose.

Poetic and Literary Dimensions

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My "SEA-MULATIONS" collection draws deeply from the imagination of poets and thinkers who found endless inspiration in the sea. Aristotle, in an apocryphal text, divided humanity into three categories: "the living, the dead, and those who go to sea." This idea resonates throughout my paintings, which explore that liminal space between life and death, the tangible and the invisible.

Arthur Rimbaud’s "The Drunken Boat" has also been a major influence. The boat dancing between sky and earth, between hell and paradise, mirrors our struggle to navigate a world filled with both opportunities and dangers. This constant tension—this oscillation between hope and adversity—imbues my paintings with dynamic energy.

Artistic Techniques: Capturing the Movement of Waves

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The sea is motion itself, and my paintings strive to capture its unceasing vitality. Painted in acrylics, the interplay of textures and materials mimics the undulations of waves and the shifting reflections of light on water. The colors, spanning countless shades of blue and green to the warm tones of sunsets, convey the sea’s changing moods.

I employed both brushes and palette knives to create fluid, swirling lines, evoking a sense of perpetual movement. The silhouettes of boats and imagined islands often emerge abstractly, allowing viewers the freedom to interpret their roles and meanings within the compositions.

"To Take to the Sea": More Than a Phrase, a Philosophy

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“To take to the sea” is to embrace the challenges of existence. Sailing means confronting the unpredictable, braving storms, and savoring moments of calm. The sea teaches resilience and humility before the grandeur and beauty of the elements. It reminds us that we are at once small and vast—capable of weathering life’s tsunamis while seeking a harbor.

The sailboats in my "SEA-MULATIONS" collection drift toward the unknown, buoyed by the hope of discovering, amidst infinite spaces, a hidden island where they can renew, rest, and take root.

My paintings pose a question to their viewers: As humans, are we ready to embark on this uncertain voyage, to embrace life’s ephemeral nature while cherishing every moment of this journey?

As James Dean once said, “Since we cannot change the direction of the wind, we must learn to adjust our sails.”

A Poetic and Spiritual Voyage

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"SEA-MULATIONS" is a collection that invites reflection and contemplation. It tells stories of journeys, departures and returns, quests, and resilience. Each painting is a milestone in this voyage, a moment frozen in time that captures the beauty and complexity of life.

Like a sailor on their sailboat, we are all travelers on the ocean of existence. The destination matters less than the journey itself, and every wave, every storm, carries a lesson to be learned. So, are you ready to “take to the sea,” whatever its colors may be?

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Pictures and texts protected. Reproduction forbidden.
    

The book is available from THE BOOK EDITION.

It is offered in:

• Printed version on paper:
  • Format: A4 (21 x 29.7 cm) "Portrait" orientation, 135 g white paper
  • Pages: 191
  • Printing: Color
  • Reference: 339981
  • ISBN: 978-2-488164-27-6
  • Public price (incl. tax): 50,00 €
• PDF version:
  • Format: A4 (21 x 29.7 cm) "Portrait" orientation
  • Pages: 191
  • Reference: 339981
  • ISBN: 978-2-488164-28-3
  • Public Price (incl. tax): 17,00 €

Note: I chose THE BOOK EDITION so that this book is only printed on demand, in order to minimize its environmental impact by limiting paper waste and unnecessary pollution.

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