Viridis Genii Symposium 2022

17 Oct

I am honored to have been invited to this year’s Viridis Genii Symposium as a presenter and workshop host! The virtual event took place September 23rd – 25th 2022. I am glad we made it work despite the 9 hour time difference. I shared nearly all my knowledge on plants and creating art with them and introduced my way of combining ritual magic with phytography. It was wonderful to receive such positive feedback both on my presentation and workshop.

The publication accompanying the annual event features also my essay on Phytography (introducing the term), my encounter with the guardian of the witch hazel and two illustrations by me. The book can be ordered here: https://viridisgenii.com/product/viridis-genii-series-7-vol-2/

Creating Magical Images of Plants – Combining Phytography and Ritual Magic

1 hour lecture + 3 hour workshop included the following topics:

  • methods of ritual magic, sympathetic magic and planetary magic
  • indepth information on plant pigments
  • short history of nature printing
  • alternative photography processes feat. work by Malin Fabbri and Kristina Feldhammer
  • Datura wrightii flower at Pinwheel Cave California
  • examples of phytographs created with coffee and plants
  • workshop guides through the ritual creation of your own magical plant paper talismans
  • question & answer on anything plant/ritual related

Workshop materials provided to attendents include:

  • ritually harvested, pressed flowers and plants
  • absorbent paper
  • signed print of the witch hazel seal

Phytographs created during the 3 hour Workshop:

  1. Magnolia, hour of Venus
  2. Fennel, hour of Mercury
  3. California Poppy, hour of Mercury + Moon
  4. Blue Lotus, hour of Moon
  5. Witch Hazel, hour of Saturn

My gratitude goes to the organizers Catamara and Marcus as well as the team of people that made it all possible, especially Kim, Katrink and Prof. Porterfield. Huge thanks also to the people that attended and took part in the workshops, especially David!

I am looking forward to the next point in time when the portals open for communing with the genii of the plant kingdom.

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New Sigilla Magica and Plant Papers

8 Mar

In 2021 I reworked some designs in my Sigilla Magica series. I also continued experimenting with applying plants unto paper, by placing whole plant parts on the paper and then soaking everything in coffee and plant extracts. See videos of the process on my instagram. In a final step, the new sigils were drawn with india ink on the papers. The new series was done with Black Henbane, Deadly Nightshade and High John the Conqueror root. I created three pieces of each. I am proud to say that one edition is now in the hands of a collector in Bavaria and the second one has recently been purchased by photographer and friend Cyril Helnwein in Ireland. Thanks guys for supporting my art!

If you are interested in publishing my work or wish to purchase originals, please e-mail me at contact[@]wiebkerost.com

Plant Negatives, 2021: Aconitum napellus, Circaea lutetiana, Hyoscyamus niger

Dissection 19-Tape Box and Photo Book

5 Jan

DSR 118 – DISSECTION tape box, including comprehensive photo book of the history of Dissection, released in 2021 by @dsr_productions

I received the box already in September last year, but have not posted or shared much since. In addition, I was not sure how I could communicate my feelings of gratitude and admiration for this important release. Time has of course also been an issue. So weeks and months passed, until I finally, by the end of December, grabbed the camera and simply took a few selfie shots with the book. I may be making some funny faces – enjoy. Despite all earnestness, there have also been incredibly hilarious moments, which are also present in the book. The book and tapes are really a wonderful piece of memorabilia.

1 Year, 1000 cold coffees…

14 Apr

1 year with our boy

ROOT Art Exhibition Online

22 Dec

ROOT is the inaugural exhibition hosted by The Organic Centre & creatively coordinated by artist Sarah Ellen Lundy as part of the pairs ongoing collaborative ‘Project Earth’.

https://www.rootexhibition.com/

 

Gallery

Wormwood

13 Aug

Cherry Blossoms and Düsseldoves

30 Mar

Since the birth of our son I did not have time to post anything new. But back in March, I did take a few photos of the blooming cherry tree and doves in our yard.

Bloody Halo (Synthesis)

11 Feb

Combination of 2 images from January’s partial lunar eclipse

Full Moon (and Partial Eclipse), January 10 2020

10 Jan

Ein bisschen Mondfinsternis, von heute Abend. Das erste Bild ist vom Mond, der den Kernschatten der Erde tangiert, aufgenommen um 20.13 Uhr. Die übrigen Bilder zeigen den Mond im Halbschatten mit rötlichem Hof, aufgenommen kurz nach 19.00 Uhr.

A bit of lunar eclipse, from this evening. First photo shows the moon touching upon the earth’s umbra, at 20.13. The other photos show the full moon in the earth’s penumbra with a red halo, at around 7 pm.

2020

2 Jan

First, fluctuating impressions for 2020… later we went to see “Motherless Brooklyn” at one of the Filmkunstkinos here in Düsseldorf. I like films, where one can actually focus on the characters and remember the story afterwards. This was such a film. Edward Norton is a little genius.