The Mariner
36" X 48" oil on canvas Available from the studio For information ... Contact us The story point ... A look back in time to the ancient Greek roots of Siren mythology according to Homer. But Homer's account of Sirens as femme fatal was tailored to suit the story of The Odyssey and represents one of the the mysterious supernatural threats that Odysseus and his crew would face during their epic journeys. Thanks to Homer, the Siren has become synonymous with the dangerous temptation embodied by woman, a common theme in Christian art and culture as witnessed with Adam and Eve in the book of Genesis (1:1-2:4). For my coming Sirens book I've taken a different interpretation of the Siren myth to suit my purpose. In that cause I've designed this painting to have the viewer question their intent. We see the mariner, but is he alive or dead? We see the Sirens, but their role is ambiguous. Was the ill-fated mariner lured to his demise? Or are the Sirens gathered to mourn or even lend assistance? It's up to the viewer to write that story. In my defence, Homer's Odyssey predates the written Greek language by some 800 years. Plenty of room for verbal interpretation and embellishment there. The origin of the Siren myth also predates Homer by 5000 years as they can be seen seen carved on the walls of ancient tombs. An odd choice for tomb adornment according to Homer's interpretation. Writing has long been a integral part of Mark Heine's creative process. In the pursuit of his original artistic voice, Mark's writing has evolved to become the driving force behind his work and has led him to envision a world of his own creation. Sirens, the culmination of 38 years exploration, is inspired by the sea-nymphs, made famous in Homer's Odyssey. These underwater visions of mythological muse are rooted in the moments of an ongoing and developing fictional narrative. This complex narrative, involving human evolution and our natural environment, is the unifying conceptual thread that ties these surreal visions. |
