Nuclear Crucifixion
The artwork to be reviewed is a triad of works by the contemporary psychedelic artist, Alex Grey. His last name was a chosen name, Grey being the mediator between the stark contrast of white and black. This contrast looms as a theme behind much of his work, as he tries to bridge a gap between the spiritually lost and the spiritually saved. Here I will refer to three works by Grey to give a context to the art he produces and better understand the piece of art I found as horrific as I did significant. That art is titled Nuclear Crucifixion, and depicts a crucified Jesus Christ held up by the smoke of a mushroom cloud. An ominous nod to the threat of nuclear extinction that dawns again for humanity. The other pieces are titled Visionary Origin of Language, depicting a hominid speaking symbols into the air, and Acorn Dream, an electrified acorn with the picture of a mighty Oak within its small shell. These two paintings show a small extent of Alex Greys power using symbology. In Acorn Dream, you envision with the acorn the real possibility that such a small seed will sprout into such long trunks and leaves. Greater meaning can be extracted and applied from this painting to our own lives, where a small seed of our own can also grow into mighty trees, like our bodies or souls. In the Visionary Origin of Language, we see symbology of antiquity mixed with symbols of modernity. The painting is layered with psychedelic references that entice the psyche, of cracked skies and an animated spirit world of vibrations. In one hand, the hominid subject holds a pair of Psilocybin Zapotecorum, a species of mushrooms renown in Central and Southern America for its ceremonial psychedelic effects. Dancing atop the mushroom looks to be an unknown fiery entity, clinging to the ear of our subject as he looks starry eyed to the sky. Blue rivers flow like veins through his body, and his delicate finger points to a series of intricately simple symbols flowing from his mouth into open air. From the areas of chakra points, which is an eastern idea of points that represent our light body, we see a vortex coming from his throat, from his brow, and from his crown. Scattered throughout the sky are symbols from Egyptian culture; Hindu culture; Buddhist culture; Most of which represent the sacred of their theology. This piece of art can be dissected for an eternity, drenched in thoughtful emblems that represent an idea greater than basic understanding. This leads to the final, perhaps most thrilling piece I've come across in my twenty years of artful experience.
