Introduction
Light and darkness, viewed from below. A familiar image, yet one that becomes ever surprising when contemplated deeply. At the boundary between what we know and what remains hidden lies inspiration. It is a landscape that every person can observe when looking up at the night sky and wondering: “What is up there?”
How does the calm of eternity move us so deeply and make us question? When we look at the sky, all earthly problems seem to fade away, leaving our minds free to explore the infinite realm of possibilities. For some, this vastness is a source of inspiration, while for others it can feel overwhelming, making them feel small in the face of the universe’s immensity.
The landscape captured by Cristina Sarbu lies at the boundary between Heaven and Earth, between ether and matter. The artist has captured that sense of wonder we have when looking at a starry sky, filtering everything through a dreamlike vision.
The image evokes a dream, similar to how night remains imprinted in our memories or imagination. The work captures the mystery and beauty of night, that intimate moment when we feel protected by the darkness that often hides our imperfections, letting us be ourselves, away from others’ gazes and judgments.
This landscape is not just a faithful rendering of the night sky, but a representation of how we perceive it and its impact on us. It is our intimate shelter, a space that protects us from anxieties and judgments, while the stars watch over us and guide us with light and hope.
Interpretation of Symbols
Symbols:
- The wintry sky is a metaphor for the vast and cold cosmic space, suggesting introspection and the unknown.
- The guiding star at the top represents consciousness illuminating the path and cutting through the darkness of night. It is a symbol of spiritual guidance.
- The darkness in the background and subtle shadows represent the subconscious, an unexplored area full of mysteries and psychological depths that often manifest impulsively and involuntarily.
- The light is associated with consciousness and clear areas, symbolizing illumination, understanding, and transcendence. It is also the seat of reason and will that is striving for control.
- The islands of matter floating between sky and earth suggest a bridge between spirit and body, between the ethereal universe and material reality. This is why they appear as a combination of both planes, as it is a fusion zone.
- The ethereal blue represents the symbolic separation between two dimensions, the transition space where thoughts and ideas take form from decomposition into becoming.
Evoked Feelings
The painting conveys a state of reverie and deep contemplation, inviting the viewer into an atmosphere of cosmic mystery. Feelings of calm, inner peace, and spiritual transformation are accentuated through the use of cool blue and the contrast with warm light and subtle touches of yellow.
Ideal Use
This work is ideally suited for a bedroom, where it can induce a state of tranquility and dreaming, or in a personal office, where it stimulates creativity and introspection.
It would also be suitable for a relaxation space, such as a living room or library, or in professional spaces such as a waiting room or corporate office where it would contribute to creating a relaxing and contemplative atmosphere.
And due to its peaceful subject matter and the calm state it conveys, the piece can be safely displayed in a child’s room.
Color Analysis
Total Colors: Sapphire Blue, Electric Blue, Smalt, Royal Blue, Cobalt Blue, Seal Blue, Azure, Light Blue, Lapis Lazuli, Denim, Secondary Turquoise, Mineral Blue, Charcoal, Moon White, Periwinkle, Honey, Yellow Ochre, Sunset, Oscuro
Color Significance:
- Sapphire and electric blue, used in multiple variations and layers, evoke serenity, calm, and suggest psychological and spiritual depth.
- The white and yellow shades of the stars create a contrast with darkness, symbolizing light and hope shining in the night. These warm colors convey a feeling of illumination and spiritual clarity.
- Turquoise and periwinkle shades evoke a sensation of dreaming and existential contemplation.
The overall emotional impact is one of tranquility, with an undercurrent of mystery and introspection, creating an atmosphere of balance between dream and reality.
Artistic Movement
The work falls within Abstract Expressionism and Abstract Impressionism, through which the artist explores emotions and sensations beyond visible reality.
Additionally, Van Gogh’s influences are evident when observing the chromatic vibrancy in the starry sky.
Working Style
- Technique: Impasto with Knife, Blending, Layering, Controlled Brushwork, Spontaneous Strokes, Gestural, Scratching, Washes
- Materials: Oil on Canvas
Cristina Sarbu uses various techniques, such as impasto (thick layers of paint applied with a palette knife), layering, and blending to create depth and texture. Spontaneous and gestural strokes suggest uncontrolled but intuitive energy, while scratching adds subtle details.
The oil on canvas painting amplifies the richness of colors and depth of textures.
Composition
Academic Classification: Abstract Art and Landscape
- Subjects of the work: A symbolic meeting between sky and earth, with stars and shadows dancing in a cosmic landscape.
- Arrangement of Elements: The balance is predominantly asymmetric, with light and darkness harmoniously distributed to create contrast and tension.
- Proportion and Scale: The larger central forms draw the eye, while subtle details of stars and shadows give the sensation of vast and infinite space.
- Focal point: Eyes are drawn to the upper center of the work, where the luminous star dominates the landscape, suggesting spiritual illumination.
- Lines and shapes: Flowing lines and abstract textures contribute to the feeling of cosmic movement and fluidity.
- Color and contrast: The contrast between blue and the warm light of stars is the main visual driver, bringing balance between darkness and light.
- Space and depth: The use of blue shades to create multiple layers suggests a three-dimensional landscape.
- Rhythm and landmarks: Stars and islands of light create a visual rhythm that guides the eye from one element to another.
Associations and Inspirations
Cristina Sarbu is influenced by Van Gogh, especially through the use of starry sky and energetic strokes. Also, the elements of light and darkness recall techniques used in expressionism, where emotion and inner state prevail over form.
Conclusion
Finally, the mastery with which the work “As Above So Below” was created by artist Cristina Sarbu, capturing the night sky through the filter of a dreamy state, evokes a deep calm that can relieve viewers from worldly concerns that are often burdensome.
Because the painting is a symbol that invites contemplation, it creates a serene atmosphere and can spark profound conversations, especially if placed in an area exposed to curious eyes, such as a living room, bedroom, or corporate office.
The future owner of this piece will become a Cultural Patron who supports and promotes local values. It is a title held by few people, but one that is highly appreciated in society.
This piece complements any refined space in which considerable investment has been made, being complementary to modern luxurious decor, which often impresses through simplicity and minimalism but does not stimulate the senses.
In most decorating schemes, walls remain the most neglected, despite being focal points that can elevate a room and impress any guest through a carefully chosen piece.
And this happens because the selected painting represents the owner and honors them in front of others.
Because paintings are among the few decorations that highlight the deep thoughts and emotions that an owner has and which, normally, must be made known through long conversations.
A well-chosen painting can do this in minutes.
And it can continue this task for a lifetime, even more so when we remember that this precious good is passed on to descendants.
And with time, the value of such an object inevitably increases.
For it is a unique and inimitable piece that is in the possession of only one person, its rightful owner.
Therefore, if you feel that the work “As Above So Below” is right for you or that it conveys to you and others the feelings with which you identify, don’t hesitate to call us to reserve it.
