Laurence Caruana
Encyclopedia
Laurence Caruana is a Maltese
artist
, writer
, and lecturer
noted for his contribution to the contemporary visionary art
movement, particularly through his Manifesto of Visionary Art.
, Canada
. After completing his studies in German and ancient Greek Philosophy (B.A. from the University of Toronto
1985), he learned classical painting techniques at the Akademie der Bildenden Künste in Vienna (Academy of Fine Arts Vienna
1990).
Caruana then began an itinerant existence, living variously in Toronto, Malta
, Vienna, Munich, Monaco
, and Paris. In that period, he actively pursued visionary experience (dreams, entheogen
s) as a source for his painting and writing. After meeting his French fiançée in Munich, L. Caruana settled in Paris. In the year 2000 he met Ernst Fuchs
of the Vienna School of Fantastic Realism
and subsequently apprenticed under him for a year, working in his studios in Monaco and Castillon, as well as at the St. Egyd chapel in Klagenfurt
.
Caruana currently works in his atelier in the Bastille
, and often travels abroad to exhibit his works or deliver lecture presentations on visionary art
. The year 2008 marks the publication of Enter Through the Image (Recluse 2008, ISBN 978-0-9782637-2-0) and his first painting seminar Visions in the Mischtechnik.
, Caruana began using the Mischtechnik
, a painting technique which alternates between glazes of oil color (mixed in an oleo-resinous medium) and water-based whites (mixed in egg tempera or casein
).
His art is highly mythological. Through fine lines, strong colors and precise rendering, Caruana's work manifests the imagery typical of visionary
experience. More uniquely, his work combines symbols and styles from different cultural mythologies.
He has exhibited his works in London, Paris, Munich, Monaco, and other cities, both individually and as part of various visionary groups (les Visionnaires in France, Dali's Erben in Germany, Society for Art of Imagination in England).
His work has also appeared on album covers, in magazines, as tattoos, trading cards, and in posters for trance gatherings.
expands Christian myth by incorporating motifs from other cultures, such as ancient Greece (Platonism
) and Egypt (Hermeticism
). Throughout the novel, Christ utters the actual sayings (logia) of the Gnostic gospels
found at Nag Hammadi
Egypt. L. Caruana's interest in Gnosticism forms part of a much broader fascination with crossing myths from different cultural mythologies.
movement, L. Caruana has also become one of its spokesmen. Through his on-line Visionary Revue, he has documented the history and evolution of this international movement. His Manifesto of Visionary Art (Recluse 2001, English and French editions) was published on-line and in print to an enthusiastic response. The creative essays Myrette and A Mirror Delirious, which appear in issue 4, bring up to date all the author’s thoughts and insights into Visionary art
since the publication of the Manifesto.
Caruana's life-long pursuit of 'the ancient image-language' reached fruition in a book entitled Enter Through the Image: The Ancient Image-Language of Myth, Art and Dreams (Recluse 2008 ISBN 978-0-9782637-2-0). Here, he clearly delineates how different cultural symbols may be combined, or how various myths may cross one another. Drawing upon examples from sacred and visionary art, the book demonstrates how we may 'think through' images and even enter through the image.
, L. Caruana often travels abroad to deliver lectures on visionary art
. He has spoken at such venues as the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales
in Paris, the Metageum conference in Malta, and Alex Grey
's Chapel of Sacred Mirrors in New York.
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, and lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
noted for his contribution to the contemporary visionary art
Visionary art
Visionary art is art that purports to transcend the physical world and portray a wider vision of awareness including spiritual or mystical themes, or is based in such experiences.-Definition:...
movement, particularly through his Manifesto of Visionary Art.
Biography
Laurence Caruana was born the third son of Maltese parents who met and married in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. After completing his studies in German and ancient Greek Philosophy (B.A. from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
1985), he learned classical painting techniques at the Akademie der Bildenden Künste in Vienna (Academy of Fine Arts Vienna
Academy of Fine Arts Vienna
The Academy of Fine Arts Vienna is an institution of higher education in Vienna, Austria.- History :The Academy of Fine Arts Vienna was founded in 1692 as a private academy by the court-painter Peter Strudl, who became the Praefectus Academiae Nostrae. In 1701 he was ennobled as Baron of the Empire...
1990).
Caruana then began an itinerant existence, living variously in Toronto, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, Vienna, Munich, Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
, and Paris. In that period, he actively pursued visionary experience (dreams, entheogen
Entheogen
An entheogen , in the strict sense, is a psychoactive substance used in a religious, shamanic, or spiritual context. Historically, entheogens were mostly derived from plant sources and have been used in a variety of traditional religious contexts...
s) as a source for his painting and writing. After meeting his French fiançée in Munich, L. Caruana settled in Paris. In the year 2000 he met Ernst Fuchs
Ernst Fuchs (artist)
Ernst Fuchs is an Austrian painter, draftsman, printmaker, sculptor, architect, stage designer, composer, poet, singer and one of the founders of the Vienna School of Fantastic Realism. In 1972 he acquired the derelict Otto Wagner Villa in Hütteldorf, which he restored and transformed...
of the Vienna School of Fantastic Realism
Vienna School of Fantastic Realism
The Vienna School of Fantastic Realism is a group of artists founded in Vienna in 1946. It includes Ernst Fuchs, Arik Brauer, Rudolf Hausner, Wolfgang Hutter, Anton Lehmden and Fritz Janschka, all students of Professor Albert Paris Gütersloh at the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts...
and subsequently apprenticed under him for a year, working in his studios in Monaco and Castillon, as well as at the St. Egyd chapel in Klagenfurt
Klagenfurt
-Name:Carinthia's eminent linguists Primus Lessiak and Eberhard Kranzmayer assumed that the city's name, which literally translates as "ford of lament" or "ford of complaints", had something to do with the superstitious thought that fateful fairies or demons tend to live around treacherous waters...
.
Caruana currently works in his atelier in the Bastille
Bastille
The Bastille was a fortress in Paris, known formally as the Bastille Saint-Antoine. It played an important role in the internal conflicts of France and for most of its history was used as a state prison by the kings of France. The Bastille was built in response to the English threat to the city of...
, and often travels abroad to exhibit his works or deliver lecture presentations on visionary art
Visionary art
Visionary art is art that purports to transcend the physical world and portray a wider vision of awareness including spiritual or mystical themes, or is based in such experiences.-Definition:...
. The year 2008 marks the publication of Enter Through the Image (Recluse 2008, ISBN 978-0-9782637-2-0) and his first painting seminar Visions in the Mischtechnik.
Painting
After apprenticing with Ernst FuchsErnst Fuchs (artist)
Ernst Fuchs is an Austrian painter, draftsman, printmaker, sculptor, architect, stage designer, composer, poet, singer and one of the founders of the Vienna School of Fantastic Realism. In 1972 he acquired the derelict Otto Wagner Villa in Hütteldorf, which he restored and transformed...
, Caruana began using the Mischtechnik
Mischtechnik
Mische technique or mixed technique or mixed method is a method of painting where egg tempera is used in combination with oil based paints and resins to create the possibility of rendering a luminous, resonant realism. The egg yolk of the egg tempera is a naturally occurring emulsion of water and...
, a painting technique which alternates between glazes of oil color (mixed in an oleo-resinous medium) and water-based whites (mixed in egg tempera or casein
Casein
Casein is the name for a family of related phosphoprotein proteins . These proteins are commonly found in mammalian milk, making up 80% of the proteins in cow milk and between 60% and 65% of the proteins in human milk....
).
His art is highly mythological. Through fine lines, strong colors and precise rendering, Caruana's work manifests the imagery typical of visionary
Visionary
Defined broadly, a visionary, is one who can envision the future. For some groups this can involve the supernatural or drugs.The visionary state is achieved via meditation, drugs, lucid dreams, daydreams, or art. One example is Hildegard of Bingen, a 12th century artist/visionary and Catholic saint...
experience. More uniquely, his work combines symbols and styles from different cultural mythologies.
He has exhibited his works in London, Paris, Munich, Monaco, and other cities, both individually and as part of various visionary groups (les Visionnaires in France, Dali's Erben in Germany, Society for Art of Imagination in England).
His work has also appeared on album covers, in magazines, as tattoos, trading cards, and in posters for trance gatherings.
Writing
Caruana's creative and critical writing are extensions of his interest in mythology and visionary art.Creative writing
In a novel such as The Hidden Passion (Recluse 2007 ISBN 978-0-9782637-0-6), the author has retold the tale of Christ from the Gnostic perspective. Though condemned by the early church as a heresy, GnosticismGnosticism
Gnosticism is a scholarly term for a set of religious beliefs and spiritual practices common to early Christianity, Hellenistic Judaism, Greco-Roman mystery religions, Zoroastrianism , and Neoplatonism.A common characteristic of some of these groups was the teaching that the realisation of Gnosis...
expands Christian myth by incorporating motifs from other cultures, such as ancient Greece (Platonism
Platonism
Platonism is the philosophy of Plato or the name of other philosophical systems considered closely derived from it. In a narrower sense the term might indicate the doctrine of Platonic realism...
) and Egypt (Hermeticism
Hermeticism
Hermeticism or the Western Hermetic Tradition is a set of philosophical and religious beliefs based primarily upon the pseudepigraphical writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus...
). Throughout the novel, Christ utters the actual sayings (logia) of the Gnostic gospels
Gnostic Gospels
The Gnostic Gospels are a collection of about fifty-two texts supposedly based upon the ancient wisdom teachings of several prophets and spiritual leaders including Jesus, written from the 2nd to the 4th century AD. These gospels are not part of the standard Biblical canon of any major Christian...
found at Nag Hammadi
Nag Hammâdi
Nag Hammadi , is a city in Upper Egypt. Nag Hammadi was known as Chenoboskion in classical antiquity, meaning "geese grazing grounds". It is located on the west bank of the Nile in the Qena Governorate, about 80 kilometres north-west of Luxor....
Egypt. L. Caruana's interest in Gnosticism forms part of a much broader fascination with crossing myths from different cultural mythologies.
Critical writing
Due to his deep involvement with the Visionary artVisionary art
Visionary art is art that purports to transcend the physical world and portray a wider vision of awareness including spiritual or mystical themes, or is based in such experiences.-Definition:...
movement, L. Caruana has also become one of its spokesmen. Through his on-line Visionary Revue, he has documented the history and evolution of this international movement. His Manifesto of Visionary Art (Recluse 2001, English and French editions) was published on-line and in print to an enthusiastic response. The creative essays Myrette and A Mirror Delirious, which appear in issue 4, bring up to date all the author’s thoughts and insights into Visionary art
Visionary art
Visionary art is art that purports to transcend the physical world and portray a wider vision of awareness including spiritual or mystical themes, or is based in such experiences.-Definition:...
since the publication of the Manifesto.
Caruana's life-long pursuit of 'the ancient image-language' reached fruition in a book entitled Enter Through the Image: The Ancient Image-Language of Myth, Art and Dreams (Recluse 2008 ISBN 978-0-9782637-2-0). Here, he clearly delineates how different cultural symbols may be combined, or how various myths may cross one another. Drawing upon examples from sacred and visionary art, the book demonstrates how we may 'think through' images and even enter through the image.
Lectures
From his atelier in the BastilleBastille
The Bastille was a fortress in Paris, known formally as the Bastille Saint-Antoine. It played an important role in the internal conflicts of France and for most of its history was used as a state prison by the kings of France. The Bastille was built in response to the English threat to the city of...
, L. Caruana often travels abroad to deliver lectures on visionary art
Visionary art
Visionary art is art that purports to transcend the physical world and portray a wider vision of awareness including spiritual or mystical themes, or is based in such experiences.-Definition:...
. He has spoken at such venues as the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales
École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales
The École des hautes études en sciences sociales is a leading French institution for research and higher education, a Grand Établissement. Its mission is research and research training in the social sciences, including the relationship these latter maintain with the natural and life sciences...
in Paris, the Metageum conference in Malta, and Alex Grey
Alex Grey
Alex Grey is an American artist specializing in spiritual and psychedelic art that is sometimes associated with the New Age movement. Grey is a Vajrayana practitioner. His body of work spans a variety of forms including performance art, process art, installation art, sculpture, visionary art, and...
's Chapel of Sacred Mirrors in New York.
By L. Caruana
- The Hidden Passion: A Novel of the Gnostic Christ, Based on the Nag Hammadi Texts (Recluse 2007, ISBN 978-0-9782637-0-6).
- Enter Through the Image: The Ancient Image-Language of Myth, Art and Dreams (Recluse 2008, ISBN 978-0-9782637-2-0).
- A Manifesto of Visionary Art (Recluse 2001, English and French editions).
- Fragments: The First Accumulation of Works (Recluse 1989).
On (or including) L. Caruana
- Metamorphosis, 50 Contemporary Surreal, Fantastic and Visionary Artists edited by Jon Beinart (Beinart Publishing 2007 ISBN 978-0-9803231-0-8)
- Erik Davis, The New Eye: Visionary Art and Tradition, Introduction to True Visions (Betty Books, 2006 ISBN 88-902372-0-1), which first appeared in the COSM Journal of Visionary Culture, volume IV (COSM Press, 2006).
- Silvia Thyssen, Boundaries in Question : Examining Visionary Art, Erowid Extracts: Psychoactive Plants and Chemicals, May 2003.
- COSM Journal of Visionary Culture, volume V (COSM Press, 2008)
- La Mort Transfigurée: L'Art Visionnaire et la Mort (Galerie l'Arche de Morphée, 2006)
- Dalis Erben malen Europa, edited by Roger M. Erasmy (Kastner Verlag, 2005)
External links
- L. Caruana main site
- Visionary Revue edited by L. Caruana.
- The Gnostic Q featuring The Hidden Passion.
- Article on Visionary Art (with reference to L. Caruana). Silvia Thyssen, Boundaries in Question : Examining Visionary Art, Erowid Extract, May 2003.
- Article on Visionary Art (with reference to L. Caruana). Erik Davis, The New Eye: Visionary Art and Tradition, Introduction to True Visions (Betty Books, 2006 ISBN 88-902372-0-1), which first appeared in the COSM Journal, issue 4.
- L. Caruana in Erowid's Visionary Art Vaults.
- L. Caruana in the Visionary Art Collective.