“In mythology and literature, the ‘language of the birds’ is a magical language which only the initiated can speak, revealing secret truths and causing transformations,” explain the organizers of the exhibit “Language of the Birds: Occult and Art,” which was on view at the 80WSE Gallery at the New York University Steinhardt from Jan. 12 to Feb. 13, 2016.

“The artists in ‘Language of the Birds’ can be considered magicians when seen through a mythopoetic lens,” curator Pam Grossman said in a prepared statement. “They offer up a visual vocabulary, so that we all might be initiated into their imaginal mystery cults and dialog with the ineffable. They speak to us in secret tongues, cast spells, and employ pictures for the purpose of activating profound change in both themselves and in us. By going within, then drawing streams of imagery forth through their creations, each of these artists seeks to render the invisible visible, to materialize the immaterial, and to tell us that we, too, can enter numinous realms.”

All the images here are from the exhibit and courtesy of 80WSE Gallery, except for Ron Rege Jr.’s drawings, which are in the show and here curtesy of him.

Ron Rege Jr., "Cosmogenesis."
Ron Rege Jr., “Cosmogenesis.”
Ron Rege Jr., "Cosmogenesis."
Ron Rege Jr., “Cosmogenesis.”
Adela Leibowitz, "Isis and the Goat-Fish of Ea (Enki)," 2012. Oil on canvas on panel.
Adela Leibowitz, “Isis and the Goat-Fish of Ea (Enki),” 2012. Oil on canvas on panel.
Rithika Merchant, "Lilit Births the Djinn," 2015. Gouache and ink on paper.
Rithika Merchant, “Lilit Births the Djinn,” 2015. Gouache and ink on paper.
Kurt Seligmann, "Noctambulation," 1942. Oil on panel.
Kurt Seligmann, “Noctambulation,” 1942. Oil on panel.
Juanita Guccione, "Three Women and Three Owls," ca. 1948. Oil on canvas.
Juanita Guccione, “Three Women and Three Owls,” ca. 1948. Oil on canvas.
Leonor Fini, "Le Carrefour d’hecate," 1977-78. Oil on canvas.
Leonor Fini, “Le Carrefour d’hecate,” 1977-78. Oil on canvas.
Enrico Donati, "Fist," 1946. Bronze and glass.
Enrico Donati, “Fist,” 1946. Bronze and glass.
Leonora Carrington, "El Nigromante (The Conjuror)," ca. 1950. Oil on canvas.
Leonora Carrington, “El Nigromante (The Conjuror),” ca. 1950. Oil on canvas.
Shannon Taggart, "Medium Sylvia Howarth Channels Her Spirit Guide Tommy, a Boxer with a Black Eye," 2013. Chromogenic print.
Shannon Taggart, “Medium Sylvia Howarth Channels Her Spirit Guide Tommy, a Boxer with a Black Eye,” 2013. Chromogenic print.
Kurt Seligmann, "Sabbath Phantoms (Mythomania)," ca. 1945. Oil on canvas.
Kurt Seligmann, “Sabbath Phantoms (Mythomania),” ca. 1945. Oil on canvas.
Aleister Crowley's "Kwaw (Idealized Self-portrait)," 1935. Ink on paper.
Aleister Crowley’s “Kwaw (Idealized Self-portrait),” 1935. Ink on paper.
Alison Blickle, "New Keys," 2015. Oil on canvas and glazed ceramics.
Alison Blickle, “New Keys,” 2015. Oil on canvas and glazed ceramics.
Paul Laffoley's "Astrological Ouroboros,", 1965. Oil, acrylic, and vinyl press type on canvas.
Paul Laffoley’s “Astrological Ouroboros,”, 1965. Oil, acrylic, and vinyl press type on canvas.
Categories: Art