Creation of the Birds

In this masterly canvas, Varo introduces us to the laboratory of a hybrid character, half-woman, half-owl, who embodies the figure of Wisdom and the Artist-Demiurge. The work does not merely illustrate a creative act; it proposes a cosmogony where art is an exact and mystical science. The alchemist uses a magnifying glass to concentrate light captured by a triangular instrument connected to the outside, transforming stellar rays into a tangible substance. The bird is not just painted; it is engendered. The artist holds a brush connected to a violin resting on her chest, suggesting that musical vibration and sound emotion are essential to the manifestation of the living. Every brushstroke is a note, every color a frequency. The character wears an organic-looking garment that integrates with the furniture and floor, symbolizing a total connection with the alchemical environment. The myth present here is that of spiritual alchemy, where the transformation of base metals into gold is replaced by the transformation of inert matter into flying spirit. The birds, once created, fly through an open window, symbolizing the liberation of the soul and the intellect. Varo, influenced by the theories of Gurdjieff and Ouspensky, explores the idea that humanity can reach a higher state of consciousness through rigorous work on oneself. The almost miniature precision of the technique reinforces the sacred aspect of the scene. The walls of the room, with textures of ancient stone, seem to vibrate with latent energy. The silence of the laboratory is palpable, broken only by the imaginary vibration of the violin. It is a deep meditation on the responsibility of the artist: to actively participate in evolution by providing a new soul born from the confluence of art, music, and light.