Inviolate

I think of Inviolate as a symphonic type of painting. By that I mean it is a complex and dynamic composition as opposed to a more simple or minimal work. In it I use a large variety of colors, textures, and tonal values to create a diversity of forms that populate two distinct spaces – a vast light-filled tangible space seen through the portal or window and a nebulous dark space that surrounds it.

Central to the composition of Inviolate is a young couple. They face each other with eyes closed, extending their hands outward to contain, protect, and nurture a glowing light. While doing so they magically float in space in front of an idyllic landscape and within a vine covered, mandorla-shaped stone structure. Surrounding the stone structure are four demonic figures. Each demon has harnessed the ability to use water, fire, wind, and a spear as weapons and with them they try to penetrate or violate the stone structure. Watching over the demons and directing their actions is a large snake that has wound its way up the right side of the composition to the top where it looks scathingly at the wooden plank that announces the title and theme of the painting. Just to the left of the large snake's head are a coiling bundle of smaller snakes. They can be seen as a nest of the large snake's offspring. Like the couple protecting the light, the stone structure serves to protect the couple and the landscape from all the outside evil forces trying to violate them.

Inviolate also contains many symbolic elements. The youthful couple symbolizes an Adam and Eve archetype hovering above an Edenesque landscape. Together they represent love, fertility, and the vibrancy of life. This is reinforced by the mandorla shaped stone structure, which can be interpreted as a womb that is entwined with life affirming vines. Three of the four demons symbolize basic elements – water, fire, and air, while the snakes represent both earth and the satanic underworld. The fourth demon, with his broken spear, alludes to the futility and senselessness of violence and aggression. Finally, at the bottom of the composition, the tail of the water demon forms a de facto figure eight, hinting at the eternal struggle between good and evil.

The idea for Inviolate began as a silverpoint drawing from 2005. The drawing is a much simpler and more modest composition that concentrates on depicting only the couple floating within the vine covered stone structure. My intent with both the drawing and the painting was to explore the inviolate theme by focusing on representation of the inviolate nature of love. To pursue that I imagined love manifested as a glowing ball of light being protected by a young couple. Years later when I was conceptualizing the painting, I added the idyllic landscape and, more dramatically, the demonic figures. In the context of the painting the demons represent a threat to the couple and their inviolate love. They are an evil force trying to violate what is meant to remain eternally inviolate.

In the end depicting the nature of inviolate love was a challenge. Not only because of the amorphous or intangible essence of the idea but also because it is seemingly at odds with the major focus in all of my work - change and transformation. That said, Inviolate was an enjoyable picture to create and hopefully provides the viewer with a rich and rewarding visual experience.

- Brian Mains, October 2021