The Solve et Coagula Series

This series had its inception when I started to paint on advertising placards found in the basement of my New York apartment.  At the time, I found it challenging to spar ideologically and artistically with the ready-made commercial images that they contained.  Akin to the ancient practice of Alchemy, I found this process brought unique qualities to the work that was produced.

Alchemical practices seek to transmute the baser aspects of something to a more refined or higher state of being.  Aside from the obvious lead into gold analogy, this process was meant to act psychologically and spiritually on the practitioner as well as the subject.

The series title "Solve et Coagula" is the name of a formula that the alchemists used to effect this transformation.  It could be described as a process where something is broken down to its elements, which produces energy that compels reconstitution in a more pure form.

I found myself drawn to these alchemical analogies because of the way they related to my ideas about painting abstractly.  I think it also has some relevance to the relationship of the viewer to any form of abstract art.

Solve et Coagula, Phase I	Solve et Coagula, Phase II
Solve et Coagula, Phase III	Solve et Coagula, Phase IV
Solve et Coagula, Phase V	Solve et Coagula, Phase VI
Solve et Coagula, Phase VII	Solve et Coagula, Phase VIII
Solve et Coagula, Phase IX	Solve et Coagula, Phase X
Solve et Coagula, Phase XI	Solve et Coagula, Phase XII
Solve et Coagula, Phase XIII	Solve et Coagula, Phase XIV
Solve et Coagula, Phase XV	Solve et Coagula, Phase XVI
Solve et Coagula, Phase XVII	Solve et Coagula, Phase XVIII

Solve et Coagula, Phase XIX

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