Babylon

This picture has the feeling of deliberate assembly on at least three 
levels.

Conceptually the approach is literary and cerebral, "a pictorial 
representation" of the topic. The choice of subject plays directly on 
the occurance of the word "mystery" in a passage from the Old Testament. 
This passage, with its various ambiguities and allegories,
provides the basis for the picture. Eichenberg introduces his own 
symbolism to interpret the "vision" in the text.  Skulls represent dead 
mortals, lotus's stand for purity, multiple limbs  signal the 
metaphysics of the central figure.

Artistically the symmetrical composition references both western and 
eastern religious allegories and helps integrate the mix of visual 
elements.  The picture contains a lot of information yet it is well 
ordered and carefully staged.  It looks more precise than real. 
LIghting is adapted to effect.  Cool highlights give a porcelain quality 
to the bodies of the celestial figures. Earthy color and warm chariscuro 
gives an organic quality to the skeletal mortals.  The saturated 
primaries are kept to broad and well defined areas.  The red of the 
beast is particularily effective between the cyans of the figures and 
the earth tones of the background.

Technically,  program loops build pictorial density and invite closer 
scrutiny. The approach is to  assemble a mix of found and original 
objects with well crafted texturing and lighting. The emphasis is on 
pictorial effect rather than technical purity. The accompanying text 
documents the sources of the various elements as faithfully as it 
describes their symbolic meanings.

-Jim

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