VINSKI VALOS: FIREPLACES, 3/2024
1. Phosphorus, 2024 & 2. Light-bearer, 2023
155 x 95 cm, wool, cotton and acrylic yarn on canvas
The name phosphorus stems from Greek mythology, Ξ¦ΟΟΟΟΟΞΏΟ meaning 'light-bearer' (Latin: Lucifer), referring to the planet Venus. Phosphorus is common on earth, but never naturally occurs isolated. It was discovered by an alchemist trying to convert urine into gold, and went on to revolutionize fire as the main component in matches. Before cheap matches, one strived to keep the valuable fire continually alive by storing oneβs embers and nurturing them.
Phosphorus is an element essential to sustaining life in the form of phosphates which are components of cells and DNA. In the 19th century, phosphates were the object of large-scale extraction in the pacific region by the colonizing powers, which gradually enabled fertilizer-powered industrial agriculture and a population boom. Photosynthesizing plants take the light of the sun and store its energy in their cells. Animal digestion, in turn can be viewed as slow combustion β i.e. burning β that releases that sunlight into motion and growth.
3. & 4. Light Mode & Dark Mode, 2024
45 x 45 cm, wool and acrylic yarn on canvas
The Heart on Fire is a symbol of burning love and passion. It was only added to the emoji selection in 2020 but has its origin in the flaming sacred heart of Jesus, depicted in art at least from the 1600s. Screens have eliminated the need for fire, or even lamps, to read a love letter at night. Paper and light have become one in the palm of our hands. The βlight modeβ display developed to emulate printed paper on word processors. What you see is what you get. Yet, the original the βdark modeβ has returned as we are wary of eye strain and are keen to scroll in darkness. When was your heart last aflame?
3. & 4. Light Mode & Dark Mode, 2024
45 x 45 cm, wool and acrylic yarn on canvas
5. Portal, 2023
190 x 95 cm, wool and acrylic yarn on canvas
Did the mesmerizing effect of staring into fire evolve the human mind? Fires are portals to imagined worlds as well as the protectors of dreams. While fire provided early humans with warmth and cooked food, its impact on our cognitive evolution was even more profound. Fire allowed for REM sleep as it kept nocturnal predators at bay, allowing for better memory consolidation and skill retention. The meditative state induced by staring into fire also brought humans together to plan and tell stories. It transports us to a different plane of being. Portals in popular culture and science fiction tend to be visualized as fire.
5. Portal, 2023
190 x 95 cm, wool and acrylic yarn on canvas
6. Etymology, 2024
140 x 95 cm, wool and acrylic yarn on canvas
Fire and language. The origins of color names lie in concrete things, but what color could fire and burning stand for? In the developing Germanic languages, fire was white for its glowing light, but also black for its soot. This resulted in the contradictory word 'blac' for both white and black. Germanic speakers stuck to βblack/blΓ€ckβ for the color black or for black ink, along with βbleachβ to denote white. Meanwhile, the Romance languages borrowed βblanc/blancoβ for the white glow. Subsequently, English re-borro the word as βblank,β reflecting white's association with emptiness, and modified 'bleach' to 'bleak.' Nowadays, βbleakβ has again become ambivalent on whether it means dark or pale.
6. Etymology, 2024
140 x 95 cm, wool and acrylic yarn on canvas