Chasing Spring Series 04/5
This series of paintings try’s to connect through ‘Celtic Mythology’, to the environment of our past.
Did our forefathers perceive climate change as supernatural in substance. Could their Gods change the weather, as they’re intertwined with their saga of anger, hate or happiness? Or bid our forefathers just believe in the seasonal change.
The answer to the above can be seen all over the world, within structures like ‘Stonehenge’, where the populous could go and pray to their Demi Gods or Gods.
And in the poem, ‘Gwyn’ and ‘Gwythur’, as the poem reflects impart how our forefathers revered their Gods, who by any account ruled their lives. The bard accounts the changing of the seasons, as constant battle. The winner of which can then devourer spring. ‘Interesting’, enjoy the poem and then the paintings.
Mark
And in the poem, ‘Gwyn’ and ‘Gwythur’, as the poem reflects impart how our forefathers revered their Gods, who by any account ruled their lives. The bard accounts the changing of the seasons, as constant battle. The winner of which can then devourer spring. ‘Interesting’, enjoy the poem and then the paintings.
Mark
The poem
Preserved in the Red book of Hergest, from the poem Gwyn and Gwythur.
Gwyn and Gwythur were two deities, or demi gods that waged perpetual war to possess Creurdilad, each in turn stealing her from the other, until the matter was referred to Arthur (Arthur was the Celtic alternative to Zeus often mistaken for the mythical King, ‘Arthur’) Who decided the two should fight for her every first of May, from henceforth until the day of doom, and that whichever of them should then be the conqueror should have the maiden. What satisfaction this would be for the survivor of what might be somewhat flippantly described as the longest engagement on record, is not very clear; but its mythological interpretation appears fairly obvious.
In Gwyn, we see the god of death and the underworld, and in the solar deity, Gwythur, we see the power of darkness and sunshine, in each, the force to create winter and summer, in contest each alternately winning and losing a bride who seems to represent the spring with its grain and flowers. Thus referring to the movement through the seasons, of death and rebirth.Rhys:
Hibbert Lectures pp 561-563
comment
My original starting point to create these abstracts was to connect man and nature through poetry, by reflecting on our past. A taste of mysticism that connects with nature is very apt at the moment as we look at climate change. I think the artworks connect, but it’s up to the viewer to past the last judgment.
Hope you enjoy it.
Thanks mark
