"Einstein warned that 'science without religion is lame; religion without science is blind.' Hildegard would surely concur. But she would add that science and religion without art are ineffective and violent; and art without science and religion is vapid." - Illuminations of Hildegard of Bingen, p. 15
There is much that can be said about this prolific polymath who lived during the High Middle Ages. Saint Hildegard was incredibly active as a German Benedictine abbess. Her connection to spirit and community was tremendous and beginning from an early age. She had visions starting from age three, only understanding what they were at age five. She was hesitant to share them with others, even when she received instructions from God to record what she was experiencing. After denying this message, she became physically ill until she finally wrote about what had been communicated to her by the higher power. One of the texts which came out of this was Scivias, meaning "Know the Ways." In it, twenty six visions were described and illustrated, including the Cosmic Egg, which symbolizes God and the structure of the universe.
Spilling out of the ornamented, rectangular border is a flame engulfed vesica piscis ("bladder of the fish"), the almond shape created when overlaying two circles. This form is significant in religious mysticism, often seen in the iconography of saints. It is a space which connects the divine and the mundane. The stars within the center oval and the flames are reminiscent of medieval illustrations of the nucleus of comets, seen as omens of ill will. The fire and wind are both sources of destruction and creation. Despite the devastation capable with these forces, the image is balanced and harmonious. Bold, complimentary colors create dynamism and equilibrium. The organic components of the composition can almost be seen undulating but are held stable by the strength of geometric block framing devices.
I have come back to this image many times over the years, always feeling in awe and inspired; always captivated by the artistry and symbolism.
There is much that can be said about this prolific polymath who lived during the High Middle Ages. Saint Hildegard was incredibly active as a German Benedictine abbess. Her connection to spirit and community was tremendous and beginning from an early age. She had visions starting from age three, only understanding what they were at age five. She was hesitant to share them with others, even when she received instructions from God to record what she was experiencing. After denying this message, she became physically ill until she finally wrote about what had been communicated to her by the higher power. One of the texts which came out of this was Scivias, meaning "Know the Ways." In it, twenty six visions were described and illustrated, including the Cosmic Egg, which symbolizes God and the structure of the universe.
Spilling out of the ornamented, rectangular border is a flame engulfed vesica piscis ("bladder of the fish"), the almond shape created when overlaying two circles. This form is significant in religious mysticism, often seen in the iconography of saints. It is a space which connects the divine and the mundane. The stars within the center oval and the flames are reminiscent of medieval illustrations of the nucleus of comets, seen as omens of ill will. The fire and wind are both sources of destruction and creation. Despite the devastation capable with these forces, the image is balanced and harmonious. Bold, complimentary colors create dynamism and equilibrium. The organic components of the composition can almost be seen undulating but are held stable by the strength of geometric block framing devices.
I have come back to this image many times over the years, always feeling in awe and inspired; always captivated by the artistry and symbolism.