Buried Paintings: Earth & Wine Spiral

The Art of Decay: A Symbiotic Creation

In a world where the lines between art and nature blur, I’ve started a series that intertwines the beauty of the golden ratio with the humble elegance of biodegradation. Inspired by the timeless patterns that permeate the natural world, I folded a canvas into a spiral—a nod to the mathematical forms found in the golden ratio. This foundational element set the stage for a deeper, more organic transformation.

To infuse this creation with life and sustenance, I sprayed wine onto the canvas. This choice of wine is not just about an earth pigment dye; it's about nourishment. The wine seeps into the canvas, offering sugar for the myriad little creatures that inhabit the soil where this artwork will be buried. These tiny beings are not mere spectators; they are co-creators, as their natural processes of decomposition and interaction with the wine will transform the canvas into something new and unpredictable.

I’ve created a miniature environment, carefully packing the soil around the canvas and watering it to sustain these small, industrious creatures of decay. My hope is that this grimey pit stop will be a feast for them, a process that both respects and utilizes the natural cycles of growth and decay. This particular Fableist wine, with its rich history and connection to the Aesop fable of the cicada and the ant, adds a layer of narrative to this experiment. How fitting that the very creatures celebrated in the fable might be part of the decomposition process, turning the canvas into a composition.

As we anticipate the 2024 cicada emergence, a phenomenon not seen since 1803, the timing feels perfect. This period of natural abundance and transformation mirrors the intended lifecycle of my artwork. The cicadas, with their long cycles of emergence, are a symbol of renewal and the passage of time—echoing the themes of decay and rebirth central to my piece.

I eagerly await the moment when I will unearth this canvas, transformed by the collaborative effort of soil, wine, and time. The resulting earth pigment, a product of both intentional art and natural processes, will be a testament to the beauty of symbiosis. This piece is more than art; it is an ongoing dialogue between human intention and the relentless, beautiful forces of nature. Stay tuned for the next phase of this unfolding work.