Manuscript
A symbol reveals the boundless kinship between matter and spirit. A duality that is continuously being overcome by the pure experience of being plunged into its depths. Over and over.
The characters depicted in the manuscript A garden of symbols with a horseman at its gate, are copies of the original ones from Carl Franz Koch’s book, published in 1826. Hand-drawn in black ink, akin to Japanese calligraphy, Shodo, they represent a unique historical archive of medieval language in Transylvania. Primarily used to brand livestock and stored sacks of grain, these iron-carved shapes were characteristic to each Saxon village up until the middle of the XXth century.
This manuscript delves into an allegorical investigation of their different shapes and history, beyond their factual meanings, while illuminating new connections and expanding possibilities.
CRUCE/CROSS
LITERE, INIȚIALE/LETTERS, INITIALS
UNELTE/TOOLS
APE/BODIES OF WATER
FAUNĂ, FLORĂ/ FAUNA, FLORA
OBIECTE/OBJECTS
HĂRȚI/MAPS
AMALGAMATE/MISCELLANEOUS
PORȚI/GATEWAYS
Nine threads on the loom of interpretation.
These categories share common elemental characteristics, some more obvious and familiar than others — like the straightforward, universal CROSS symbol, the LETTERS,INITIALS and FAUNA, FLORA follow suit.
The more mysterious fell under the scope of a more personal, intuitive classification — the sinous BODIES OF WATER, alongside the centuries-old TOOLS and OBJECTS, as well as the distinctive MAPS of the villages themselves.
The MISCELLANEOUS part of the manuscript, with its multifarious aspect is open to new historical findings, while GATEWAYS touches upon the heart of this journey. Elements of mythology, natural history and imaginary abstractions interweave with the rudimental symbol of the Saxon danga.