23.4.21 - Drawing with Stitch - The Mandrake
Research from Wikipedia -
Because mandrakes contain deliriant hallucinogenic tropane alkaloids and the shape of their roots often resembles human figures, they have been associated with a variety of superstitious practices throughout history. They have long been used in magic rituals, today also in contemporary pagan traditions such as Wicca and Odinism.
In one superstition, people who pull up this root will be condemned to hell, and the mandrake root would scream and cry as it was pulled from the ground, killing anyone who heard it. Therefore, in the past, people have tied the roots to the bodies of animals and then used these animals to pull the roots from the soil.
According to the legend, when the root is dug up, it screams and kills all who hear it.
The root is hallucinogenic and narcotic. In sufficient quantities, it induces a state of unconsciousness and was used as an anaesthetic for surgery in ancient times. In the past, juice from the finely grated root was applied externally to relieve rheumatic pains. It was also used internally to treat melancholy, convulsions, and mania. When taken internally in large doses, however, it is said to excite delirium and madness.
In Medieval times, mandrake was considered a key ingredient in a multitude of witches' flying ointment recipes as well as a primary component of magical potions and brews. These were entheogenic preparations used in European witchcraft for their mind-altering and hallucinogenic effects.Starting in the Late Middle Ages and thereafter, some believed that witches applied these ointments or ingested these potions to help them fly to gatherings with other witches, meet with the Devil, or to experience bacchanalian carousal.
Research from Wikipedia -
Because mandrakes contain deliriant hallucinogenic tropane alkaloids and the shape of their roots often resembles human figures, they have been associated with a variety of superstitious practices throughout history. They have long been used in magic rituals, today also in contemporary pagan traditions such as Wicca and Odinism.
In one superstition, people who pull up this root will be condemned to hell, and the mandrake root would scream and cry as it was pulled from the ground, killing anyone who heard it. Therefore, in the past, people have tied the roots to the bodies of animals and then used these animals to pull the roots from the soil.
According to the legend, when the root is dug up, it screams and kills all who hear it.
The root is hallucinogenic and narcotic. In sufficient quantities, it induces a state of unconsciousness and was used as an anaesthetic for surgery in ancient times. In the past, juice from the finely grated root was applied externally to relieve rheumatic pains. It was also used internally to treat melancholy, convulsions, and mania. When taken internally in large doses, however, it is said to excite delirium and madness.
In Medieval times, mandrake was considered a key ingredient in a multitude of witches' flying ointment recipes as well as a primary component of magical potions and brews. These were entheogenic preparations used in European witchcraft for their mind-altering and hallucinogenic effects.Starting in the Late Middle Ages and thereafter, some believed that witches applied these ointments or ingested these potions to help them fly to gatherings with other witches, meet with the Devil, or to experience bacchanalian carousal.
To start off I stitched the face and leaves free-hand, and then realised there was not enough space for a body left on the square of fabric, so I drew on a sitting figure and stitched over that. The sketchy style gives it a lot of personality and I think the loose, graphic feel is very striking - it looks raw and has a sense of humanity. The fact that it doesn't look modern is also a successful element because I am referencing the past of the mandrake within folklore and I want the materials to reflect that.
I made some black and white photocopies to test a repeat pattern and then I painted them to help me decide whether to add colour to my next pieces.
I like how these turned out, particularly the more subtle ones and the way the water colours crinkled the paper reminds me of the old book pages in the pictures from medieval books that I put earlier in the post, but I still like the original monochrome piece.
The next photocopies are using single colours from the printer options to simulate different coloured threads. My favourite is the top left because the shade of green reminds me of moss and is really organic compared to the other green on the bottom right, and I am aiming for a natural theme.
These are some experimental graphite rubbings inspired by Chris Lewis-Jones who came into college to talk about his work. I really like how you can see the woven structure of the calico and the mandrake looks faded and blurry like an old photograph.
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