Visual
Art
and
Spiritual Evolution
"It is time for us humans to consciously mature; it's time
to reconnect with ourselves and consequently with our mother Gaia.
"
"This natural process of growth—the shift towards divinity—is
happening, no matter if we humans are aware of it or not—if
we want it to happen or not. "
"Obsessive persuit of material wealth has caused a severe
imbalance of our three bodies: physical/biological, mental/psych-
ological, and spiritual."
"Ancient spiritual exercises like Yoga, Tai Chi or Qigong
can help us to reestablish the so needed harmony between our bodies,
all humans and mother earth."
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by
Andreas Gmür
Published May 15, 2004
The entire universe, all the galaxies,
suns, and planets are made out of the same "clay". All
plants, animals, humans and even non living objects like rocks are
made of the same "clay" from mother earth, hence the same
"clay" the universe is made off.
The sum of All the "clay"
is "Cosmic Energy"; others might call this Divine Force,
God, or Allah.
Cosmic Energy can be in different states,
similar to the water molecule. Water can be solid (ice) liquid (water)
and gas (vapor). It is still water, yet the distance between the
molecules is different.
A simplified interpretation states that
Cosmic Energy can be in the solid form of matter (body) or in the
pure state of Energy (spirit). Einstein captured this intimate relationship
between matter and Energy in his most known formula E=mc2.
There might have been just pure Cosmic
Energy (Spirit, Divine Force, God, or Allah) before the Big Bang.
Part or all of this Energy slowed down and changed into matter during
the Big Bang, similarly as vapor condenses to liquid water.
Our biological life in form of flesh
and bones is just a temporal state. Our physical bodies will eventually
go back from where they came from, namely mother earth and Cosmic
Energy. It is a closed system, therefore nothing is lost. It is
a perpetual change between Energy and matter until matter reaches
the level of consciousness of "Cosmic Energy".
This ‘evolution of consciousness’
goes along with Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. Biological
evolution has advanced to the point that a ‘spiritual evolution’
is taking place. This natural process of growth, increase of complexity,
or shift towards divinity is happening, no matter if we humans are
aware of it or not, if we want it to happen or not.
Our consciousness level is growing towards
‘Christ or Buddha Consciousness’ as a child grows to
become an adult. We can actually determine how much and how fast
we grow towards this ultimate goal during our biological lifetime
through examples handed down to us from ancient spiritual practices.
For example, holistic exercises harmonize
our three bodies (physical-biological, mental-psychological, and
spiritual) which tend to be out of balance in our modern society
due to stress, attachments and sick behavior. We are only truly
a ‘balanced being’ if we are equally balanced in these
three dimensions. Buddha and Jesus, to mention a few, were Masters
of this ‘applied wisdom’. We can attain a high level
of consciousness as they did if we only believe in it and take the
path of spiritual growth with 100% devotion and dedication as they
did.
The Visual Art is a language through
which humans can express their consciousness. This ability sets
us apart from animals, for example.
An artist with a highly evolved consciousness
level can potentially (through some academic skills) create works
of art that visualize and radiate this high level of energy. This
energy is ‘contagious’, be it on a conscious or subconscious
level of the viewer. This means that looking at art can foster spiritual
growth.
Artists should therefore give at least
the same importance to their spiritual development as to their academic
development in order to foster evolution, assuming that our purpose
of life is to contribute to evolution and not to decadence.
Andreas
Gmür
Andreas Gmür was born in Switzerland
and grew up in Brazil and Colombia. He has been living in the U.S.
since 1995 where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration
from Boston University (1997) and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from The
Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University (2002).
Andreas has been passionately painting since 1990 and has exhibited
his artwork in numerous group shows in Switzerland and the United
States.
He has been influenced by "Action-Painting" defined by
the Encyclopedia Britannica as: "direct, instinctual, and highly
dynamic kind of art that involves the spontaneous application of
vigorous, sweeping brushstrokes and the chance effects of dripping
and spilling paint onto the canvas."
Andreas refers to his technique
as "Chi-Energy-Painting" influenced by eastern spiritual
exercises, which goes hand in hand with his attempt to visualize
"Cosmic Energy".
Andreas' recent paintings convey an ethereal and metaphysical dimension
through numerous thin layers of translucent oil paint built up on
the canvas. Andreas had a couple of life changing mystical experiences
in 1997, which led him to his ultimate goal to contribute to the
rise of human solidarity and environmental awareness as well as
to awaken the desire for spiritual growth in as many individuals
as possible.
Andreas' "Self Portrait of
Envisioned Aspirations" was selected to be shown at the Cambridge
Art Association's National Prize Show, May 3 – June 24, 2004.
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