THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE ART:
This artwork is a prayer for offering and requesting forgiveness. I’ve written a few verses to accompany some beautiful lyrics by one of my favorite bands, Ween.
The imagery features a mask of Mahakala from Tibetan Buddhism, a Persian-style depiction of Buraq, and a miserable, prostrating, demon monk in a European style. In Greek Mythology, Argus was a god with eyes covering his whole body, able to see in all directions. This made him an ideal guard. Ween seems to be using him as a character more like a Buddhist deity and I’ve added to that. In this passage, Argus laments that people are more motivated by their own fear than they are by love and by potential.
Here’s the poem, which is the same as the text written in the print:
Whispering acquittal into ordered chambers
The words cluster in these cavities
An unfamiliar patch of sky sags
Behind our wilted shoulder.
We unmutter our accounting.
Swirling with visions of man’s confusion
All of the work, done just to appease him
The Argus he cries, “Though love has its place in the sun,
It’s only man’s fear that carries him on.”
Sulk in remorse for now
Tomorrow we stand before ourselves and repeal.
Amen
Ravi Zupa and Ween.
Carefully curated
At Ravi Zupa Arts, we take pride in creating amazing artworks and products for your home. Our wide range of art and fun illustrations are carefully curated to provide you with unique and stylish pieces to fit your lifestyle.
Artist made from beginning to end
All artworks are designed by artist Ravi Zupa and printed by skilled craftspeople. Then, we fulfill all orders from our art studio in Commerce City, Colorado.
Meet the team
Ravi Zupa Arts is a team of 5 creative humans, 4 backyard ducks, and 1 studio cat. We work hard to create and fulfill your new art!
