Review
from the April 2006 Issue of Living Traditions Magazine
Art Mind
The Healing Power of Sacred Art
Alex Grey
Sacred Mysteries DVD
Web: http://www.sacredmysteries.com
The art of Alex Grey could be best defined as visionary, but this clearly
does not do him justice. Well educated with a background
in art, honed by Shamanism and psychedelics and informed
by esotericism and occultism, Grey produces works which
seem to peer deep into the soul.
Art Mind is a journey through the works and imagination of Alex Grey,
while it centers around an extended interview with the
artist, it is illustrated throughout with his work and
works related to artists who inspire him and hence is
engaging and inspiring.
The DVD begins by discussing the power of art and its ability to influence
our reality and how we perceive the world; it then explores
his early career, his experiences of psychedelics and
shamanism, the power of relationships in his life and
the artists who have inspired him. This last subject
is fascinating as we are introduced to a diverse range
of artists, some well known, some lesser and given a
crash course in the esoteric and spiritual motifs in
their works.
While we may at first see Alex as a 'new age' artist who ignores the
darkness around him, this documentary also explores his
darker works and discusses his views on nihilism and
the role of darkness within our quest for light. This
is impressive as it shows him an extremely erudite, experienced
and well read artist, who has experienced the pain and
suffering of life as well as its light side. He is certainly
not simply someone who produces 'nice' pictures !
The final segment explores his Chapel of Sacred Mirrors and his vision
of global spiritual art which transcends our differences
and points forward to the future. Indeed the Chapel is
now a reality and you can read about it at http://www.cosm.org/.
The DVD also includes a gallery of his work.
This is a beautifully
made DVD full to the brim with interesting ideas, artists
we haven't heard of, challenges for the future and above
all, superb images of his paintings and sculptures covering
over twenty years of his career.