The Monkey and the Artisan

I was reading a book on comparative religions and found some interesting Mayan drawings depicting the story of the artisan and the monkey. The shape of the Mayan monkey reminded me of the many times I had been surprised in Asia and Africa by primates and I picked up some paint and brushes. At the back of my mind was a spider monkey in a space helmet cruising through God’s domain of consciousness. It being impossible to depict the Almighty Realm I sneaked a representation of a powerful figure into the background (spider monkey forms part of the face). So much for Mayan epistemology – the spider monkey was given a gold helmet with red outlines, a gold spiral of a tail, and the most delicate of pink feet.

I sent it to my son for Christmas but never heard back as to whether he liked it or not.
It was fun to paint and swirled frenetically.

I suggest anyone interested in learning more about Xilbaba-be (pronounced she-bal-bah bay) and 2012 read material such as http://www.crystalinks.com/mayangods or http://www.godchecker.com/mayan-mythology.

acrylic, gouache, oil and gold leaf, 2006

Kaitiaki: Callum

The Monkey and the Artisan

I was reading a book on comparative religions and found some interesting Mayan drawings depicting the story of the artisan and the monkey. The shape of the Mayan monkey reminded me of the many times I had been surprised in Asia and Africa by primates and I picked up some paint and brushes. At the back of my mind was a spider monkey in a space helmet cruising through God’s domain of consciousness. It being impossible to depict the Almighty Realm I sneaked a representation of a powerful figure into the background (spider monkey forms part of the face). So much for Mayan epistemology – the spider monkey was given a gold helmet with red outlines, a gold spiral of a tail, and the most delicate of pink feet.

I sent it to my son for Christmas but never heard back as to whether he liked it or not.
It was fun to paint and swirled frenetically.

I suggest anyone interested in learning more about Xilbaba-be (pronounced she-bal-bah bay) and 2012 read material such as http://www.crystalinks.com/mayangods or http://www.godchecker.com/mayan-mythology.

acrylic, gouache, oil and gold leaf, 2006

Kaitiaki: Callum