A Walk Through The Universe: Palimpsest

I have to say that, once again, it's been such a pleasure discovering new wonders as I forge ahead on this journey through the universe.  I'm happy to share with you my latest discoveries and hope you are as inspired and delighted as I am!  I made some preliminary queries online for "palimpsest" to see just what might pop up and then went over to etsy with the same search to see if any artists were utlizing palimpsest in their work.  There were two really amazing finds in those early searches, both of which I'll share here.  The first is an artist, Aria Nadii, whose Etsy shop WildMuse immediately became a favorite.  Her beautiful work so much embodied the notion of palimpsest that I contacted her right away. I was going to begin this post with an explanation of palimpsest, but Aria has done that so nicely, I'll just relay her contribution in its entirety!  Aria's writing has also nicely provided the introduction for the second gem I'd like to share on the subject of palimpsest, for me a fascinating subject.  I'm sure you'll fall in love with Aria's work, as I have!

Third Orbiting

From The Garden By Sea

Pisces Logic

The Road To Amyoun

Balance

The Devil's Darning Needle

Rabbit

Undersea Dreaming, Pompeii

Palimpsest (from the Greek palimpsestos (‘scraped again’) is often found in the earliest illuminated manuscripts. A palimpsest is reused writing support of papryus or parchment from which the underlying text has been erased by washing or using pumice or other scraping devices. Erasure was not always complete and an underlying text would bleed through. There came a point when I realized that I was creating pieces that were reminiscent of palimpsests, and it  after this realization that I took a closer look at the concept and began exploring it more directly.

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In my work, the written word is ever-present, but is not intended to signify anything specific. The words are there to be perceived, evoking rather than meaning. There are many layers in the construction of each piece, and texts are buried, scratched or sanded away. Sometimes they just peek through in ghostly fragments. These textual apparitions are reminiscent of the words of philosophers and poets, thought to be heretical in their time, whose carefully recorded thoughts were literally "rubbed out" and over written with religious scripture. Before the invention of paper, writing supports were expensive and the ancients were resourceful, recycling anything they could and letting very little go to waste. There is also something symbolic in this practice, that goes beyond thrift, even if it was accidental.

The canvas base of my small works are fragments of old oil paintings, which are hidden by the layers subsequently affixed. In the stitched and embroidered works, the surfaces were once parts of clothing or other textiles, onto which I layer papers made transparent by age or deliberate rubbing. I then sketch, glaze or stitch over them, partially or completely obscuring what they once were. There is meant to be a kind of poetry in the re-use and layering, resonant with that sense that comes from seeing a palimpsest, knowing that there's something hidden, half-erased beneath.

-- Aria Nadii

As she mentions in her own writing, ancient texts that included  the writings of philosophers and poets were often written over with religious scripture. I knew this to be true in an abstract sort of way, but was amazed to find a link in my search to the Archimedes Palimpsest, which can be found HERE.  An actual palimpsest!  This manuscript, undergoing extensive research and conservation at The Walters Art Museum, is a 13th century prayer book written over erased texts from the 10th century that include seven treatises of the Greek mathematician, Archimedes. Two of these are texts that exist nowhere else.  Purchased by a anonymous collector in 1998 at a Christie's auction, the palimpsest was deposited immediately at The Walters Art Museum in Baltimore for study and conservation and at this date, twelve years later, efforts are ongoing. The website for the project is a goldmine of information, images and video about the history of the manuscript, Archimedes, and the conservation efforts.  It's quite fascinating! Here's a tidbit to share...we have Archimedes to thank for many things we take for granted including the pulley, the fulcrum, and the lever...and he is apparently the first to have understood the concept of buoyancy!

Hope you can visit Aria Nadii's shop and the Archimedes Palimpsest site...both will provide a fascinating look at the layers of history both concealed and revealed in a palimpsest. 

Which reminds me...where does this path lead for next week? So many possibilities, but since it's a common connection in Aria's post and the Archimedes Palimpsest, how about looking at medieval prayer books, specifically the Book of Hours!  Love to hear your comments and anything you'd like to share about palimpsest or the Book of Hours!  

Thanks for stopping at Missouri Bend Studio!