The Lost Lamen of Telepylus
This exhibition focuses on a red figure painted on one of the walls of La Chambre des Cauchemars or the 'Chamber of Nightmares'; one of the principal rooms of the Abbey of Thelema at Cefalu founded by Aleister Crowley in 1920.
1. Heaven
Mixed media study on paper.
48cm x 37.5cm (framed)
SOLD
The south-western wall of the Chamber of Nightmares was decorated with a mural entitled 'Heaven'. This included representations of Aiwaz, painted in deep blue, with Crowley as The Beast wearing black and gold robes and his Scarlet Woman dressed in white. Below these figures is what Crowley described as a 'Memorial Pillar' set up to celebrate the 'New Message of the Masters of Wisdom to Mankind'. Only the lower part of the mural is currently visible.
2.Memorial Pillar
Acrylic on canvas textured with sand from Cefalu
50cm x 40cm x 1.5cm
SOLD
The red Memorial Pillar is decorated with the number 93 and inscriptions in Hebrew, Greek & Latin that summarize the basic tenets of Thelema.
3. Fragments of a Wall Painting
Life size. Acrylic on canvas textured with sand from Cefalu
60.5cm x 51cm x 1.5cm
SOLD
The Abbey of Thelema's murals are in great danger of being lost forever due to the damage being cuased by water penetrating the fabric of the building. In a few years only fragments of the original Memorial Pillar may remain.
4. The Silent Watcher
Acrylic on board
56cm x 24cm
SOLD
According to legend, the outwardly humble toad concealed a jewel in its forehead. In the 'Hell' mural on the north-east wall of the Chamber of Nightmares, the toad represents something that has achieved inward illumination and a detached attitude towards life.