Sweet Epiphanies
Sweet Epiphanies
An Epiphany is explained as the sudden realization or comprehension of the essence or meaning of something, usually of divine nature. Throughout history initiation rites and esoteric practices have served as vehicles of epiphany, as well as the arts. Christian Epiphany refers to the of the miraculous incarnation of the infant Christ as a living god and the Adoration of the Magi, while the worlds secular usage of the word owes some of its popularity to James Joyce, referring to those times in his life when something became manifest and crystal clear - epiphany as the undoing of the illusionary world or self, and as a moment of discovery.
In creating the Sweet Epiphanies series of paper cutouts I played with juxtaposing two cultural references relating to epiphany:
The French tradition of celebrating the Epiphany Holiday (marked as Jan 6th but celebrated through the month of January) involves sharing a Galette des Rois / the Cake of the Kings. This special galette, an almond and pastry-cream filling in between two rounds of butter puff pastry dough cake, contains a hidden lucky charm and involves a game; the one who finds the lucky charm in their slice of cake is given a paper golden crown which is included in the cake packaging, and becomes a king or queen for the day. In this game the individual is transported from an ordinary into a fantastic realm in an instant strike of luck, using merely the power of imagination. The new status is signified by wearing the golden paper crown throughout the day.
Contrary to this instant process of becoming king, the path to self-realization and spiritual growth in many stories is one to be practiced and earned. The anthropologist Joseph Campbell found that numerous myths from various times and regions share fundamental structures and stages regarding the evolution of a hero from ordinary life into a realm of the sublime, from mundane to all mighty. He called that archetypal structure the Monomyth (a word borrowed from James Joyce) and depicted 17 symbolic stages on this path, each carrying a remarkable realization of self. When achieved, these steps perpetuate the individual into a supreme state where he or she are fully realized and acknowledged as kingly heros.
We often dream of becoming mighty, wise, entitled, chosen; we long to reveal fantastic truths and powers, to be treated with respect, to find royal abundance and love, to serve our purpose and share our wealth, knowledge and insights with others. In this longing we seek to undergo a transformation that will enable us to be crowned and recognized as king or queen, rulers of our own world, heroes in our stories. In a way the simple child like game of the Galette des Rois involving becoming king for a day, gives permission to do so. Inspired by it, I created a child-like figure with the paper golden crown as the central protagonist, and embarked with him on a journey to explore what becoming a king might look like when taken to extreme heroic heights, what kinglyhood in a deeper sense can truly mean.
Sweet Epiphanies was created for display at the Colson Patisserie for the Galette des Rois season. It follows roughly the structure of the Monomyth with each frame presenting a stage, realization, or epiphany. Please see list of works with more information.
Wishing a Happy new year.
May our crowns be more accessible in 2010 and our realizations sweet and crystal clear.
Thanks to Yonatan and Ronit Israel, owners of Colson, and to Linda Miller, PR
Anat Litwin
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
List of Works - sweet epiphanies, the sequence
followed by the terms of the Momomyth by Joseph Campbell in red.
(1.) Sweet Epiphanies #1 - red royal path calling, Anat Litwin, Paper Cutouts, 19” x 19”, 2009
The Call to Adventure
(2.) Sweet Epiphanies #2 - procrastination , Anat Litwin, Paper Cutouts, 19” x 19”, 2009
Refusal of the Call
(3.) Sweet Epiphanies #3 - the companion, Anat Litwin, Paper Cutouts, 19” x 19”, 2009
Supernatural Aid
(4.) Sweet Epiphanies #4 - The Leap, Anat Litwin, Paper Cutouts, 19” x 19”, 2009
The Crossing of the First Threshold
(5.) Sweet Epiphanies #5 - surrendering to black swan, Anat Litwin, Paper Cutouts, 19” x 19”, 2009
Belly of The Whale
(6.) Sweet Epiphanies #6 - deciphering dreams of reality, Anat Litwin, Paper Cutouts, 19” x 19”, 2009
The Road of Trials
(7.) Sweet Epiphanies #7- pure love pored into the heart, Anat Litwin, Paper Cutouts, 19” x 19”, 2009
The Meeting With the Goddess
(8.) Sweet Epiphanies #8 - settling seductions, Anat Litwin, Paper Cutouts, 19” x 19”, 2009
Woman as Temptress
(9.) Sweet Epiphanies #9 - slaying that which confines the soul, Anat Litwin, Paper Cutouts, 19” x 19”, 2009
Atonement with the Father Figure
(10.) Sweet Epiphanies #10 - spirit rises from body, body rises following, Anat Litwin, Paper Cutouts, 19” x 19”, 2009
Apotheosis
(11.) Sweet Epiphanies #11 - full boon, Anat Litwin, Paper Cutouts, 19” x 19”, 2009
The Ultimate Boon
(12.) Sweet Epiphanies #12 - fear of the ordinary, Anat Litwin, Paper Cutouts, 19” x 19”, 2009
Refusal of the Return
(13.) Sweet Epiphanies #13 - carried back home on the wings of a phesant, Anat Litwin, Paper Cutouts, 19” x 19”, 2009
The Magic Flight
(14.) Sweet Epiphanies #14- your highness, Anat Litwin, Paper Cutouts, 19” x 19”, 2009
Rescue from Without
(15.) Sweet Epiphanies #15 - crossing the abyss of the ordinary, hollering in it my name
, Anat Litwin, Paper Cutouts, 19” x 19”, 2009
The Crossing of the Return Threshold
(16.) Sweet Epiphanies #16 - royal world, underworld and grey everyday emerge, Anat Litwin, Paper Cutouts, 19” x 19”, 2009
Master of Two Worlds
(17.) Sweet Epiphanies #17-iKing, Anat Litwin, Paper Cutouts, 19” x 19”, 2009
Freedom to Live
(18.) Sweet Epiphanies #18, Anat Litwin, Paper Cutouts, 19” x 19”, 2009
the crown
An Epiphany is explained as the sudden realization or comprehension of the essence or meaning of something, usually of divine nature. Throughout history initiation rites and esoteric practices have served as vehicles of epiphany, as well as the arts. Christian Epiphany refers to the of the miraculous incarnation of the infant Christ as a living god and the Adoration of the Magi, while the worlds secular usage of the word owes some of its popularity to James Joyce, referring to those times in his life when something became manifest and crystal clear - epiphany as the undoing of the illusionary world or self, and as a moment of discovery.
In creating the Sweet Epiphanies series of paper cutouts I played with juxtaposing two cultural references relating to epiphany:
The French tradition of celebrating the Epiphany Holiday (marked as Jan 6th but celebrated through the month of January) involves sharing a Galette des Rois / the Cake of the Kings. This special galette, an almond and pastry-cream filling in between two rounds of butter puff pastry dough cake, contains a hidden lucky charm and involves a game; the one who finds the lucky charm in their slice of cake is given a paper golden crown which is included in the cake packaging, and becomes a king or queen for the day. In this game the individual is transported from an ordinary into a fantastic realm in an instant strike of luck, using merely the power of imagination. The new status is signified by wearing the golden paper crown throughout the day.
Contrary to this instant process of becoming king, the path to self-realization and spiritual growth in many stories is one to be practiced and earned. The anthropologist Joseph Campbell found that numerous myths from various times and regions share fundamental structures and stages regarding the evolution of a hero from ordinary life into a realm of the sublime, from mundane to all mighty. He called that archetypal structure the Monomyth (a word borrowed from James Joyce) and depicted 17 symbolic stages on this path, each carrying a remarkable realization of self. When achieved, these steps perpetuate the individual into a supreme state where he or she are fully realized and acknowledged as kingly heros.
We often dream of becoming mighty, wise, entitled, chosen; we long to reveal fantastic truths and powers, to be treated with respect, to find royal abundance and love, to serve our purpose and share our wealth, knowledge and insights with others. In this longing we seek to undergo a transformation that will enable us to be crowned and recognized as king or queen, rulers of our own world, heroes in our stories. In a way the simple child like game of the Galette des Rois involving becoming king for a day, gives permission to do so. Inspired by it, I created a child-like figure with the paper golden crown as the central protagonist, and embarked with him on a journey to explore what becoming a king might look like when taken to extreme heroic heights, what kinglyhood in a deeper sense can truly mean.
Sweet Epiphanies was created for display at the Colson Patisserie for the Galette des Rois season. It follows roughly the structure of the Monomyth with each frame presenting a stage, realization, or epiphany. Please see list of works with more information.
Wishing a Happy new year.
May our crowns be more accessible in 2010 and our realizations sweet and crystal clear.
Thanks to Yonatan and Ronit Israel, owners of Colson, and to Linda Miller, PR
Anat Litwin
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
List of Works - sweet epiphanies, the sequence
followed by the terms of the Momomyth by Joseph Campbell in red.
(1.) Sweet Epiphanies #1 - red royal path calling, Anat Litwin, Paper Cutouts, 19” x 19”, 2009
The Call to Adventure
(2.) Sweet Epiphanies #2 - procrastination , Anat Litwin, Paper Cutouts, 19” x 19”, 2009
Refusal of the Call
(3.) Sweet Epiphanies #3 - the companion, Anat Litwin, Paper Cutouts, 19” x 19”, 2009
Supernatural Aid
(4.) Sweet Epiphanies #4 - The Leap, Anat Litwin, Paper Cutouts, 19” x 19”, 2009
The Crossing of the First Threshold
(5.) Sweet Epiphanies #5 - surrendering to black swan, Anat Litwin, Paper Cutouts, 19” x 19”, 2009
Belly of The Whale
(6.) Sweet Epiphanies #6 - deciphering dreams of reality, Anat Litwin, Paper Cutouts, 19” x 19”, 2009
The Road of Trials
(7.) Sweet Epiphanies #7- pure love pored into the heart, Anat Litwin, Paper Cutouts, 19” x 19”, 2009
The Meeting With the Goddess
(8.) Sweet Epiphanies #8 - settling seductions, Anat Litwin, Paper Cutouts, 19” x 19”, 2009
Woman as Temptress
(9.) Sweet Epiphanies #9 - slaying that which confines the soul, Anat Litwin, Paper Cutouts, 19” x 19”, 2009
Atonement with the Father Figure
(10.) Sweet Epiphanies #10 - spirit rises from body, body rises following, Anat Litwin, Paper Cutouts, 19” x 19”, 2009
Apotheosis
(11.) Sweet Epiphanies #11 - full boon, Anat Litwin, Paper Cutouts, 19” x 19”, 2009
The Ultimate Boon
(12.) Sweet Epiphanies #12 - fear of the ordinary, Anat Litwin, Paper Cutouts, 19” x 19”, 2009
Refusal of the Return
(13.) Sweet Epiphanies #13 - carried back home on the wings of a phesant, Anat Litwin, Paper Cutouts, 19” x 19”, 2009
The Magic Flight
(14.) Sweet Epiphanies #14- your highness, Anat Litwin, Paper Cutouts, 19” x 19”, 2009
Rescue from Without
(15.) Sweet Epiphanies #15 - crossing the abyss of the ordinary, hollering in it my name
, Anat Litwin, Paper Cutouts, 19” x 19”, 2009
The Crossing of the Return Threshold
(16.) Sweet Epiphanies #16 - royal world, underworld and grey everyday emerge, Anat Litwin, Paper Cutouts, 19” x 19”, 2009
Master of Two Worlds
(17.) Sweet Epiphanies #17-iKing, Anat Litwin, Paper Cutouts, 19” x 19”, 2009
Freedom to Live
(18.) Sweet Epiphanies #18, Anat Litwin, Paper Cutouts, 19” x 19”, 2009
the crown
