Dragon World: Ancient Creatures in Contemporary Art

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

These magical scaly creatures that live in a parallel world of myths and legends, from time immemorial, excite the imagination of mankind. Predatory, bloodthirsty and cruel - and at the same time bright, graceful and beautiful - they belong to the favorite images of art of all time. This review is about dragons in contemporary art, how and why we see them now; and at the same time - an attempt to open the veil of secrecy over why they are still interesting.

Four forces

It is not for nothing that we called dragons ancient, not mythological creatures: their image was first imprinted in human culture for a very long time. Even in Sumerian myths, these outlandish creatures are mentioned, who, along with the gods, participate in the creation of the Earth and the Universe. Usually they are opposed to the gods. But why?

The key is that the dragon is an artistic development of the snake image in all its contradictions. The snake is both wise and insidious at the same time. She personifies underground and underwater chthonic forces - because she always crawls on the ground and knows how to swim.

The dragon is a fire-breathing winged serpent with wings. This is a bold attempt by the ancients to unite in one creature all the power of the four elements - life-giving earth, clean water, merciless flame and fresh wind.

In contemporary art, this is reflected in the idea of elemental dragons. In the artistic world of dragons there are "fiery", "water", "earthy", "airy" creations - but you and I know that a real dragon unites everything in itself.

Dragons and knights

Another reason for the continued popularity of dragons is their close connection with the culture of the Middle Ages. Can you imagine a real knight who would not break a single spear on a thick scaly hide?

But it all started much earlier - with the same myths about the victory of God over the serpent. Hence the numerous legends about the snake-fighters, the most famous of which is St. George the Victorious.

But these are all matters of bygone days. Medieval dragons came to modern culture through fantasy - perhaps the most productive and popular art style of the past half century.

Now dragons are another bridge to the romantic world of the Middle Ages and magic, the doors to which are opened by books, films and paintings. Defeating the winged serpent is a good challenge for a real hero, and therefore, while the heroes are still in value, dragons will not be left without work either.

Dragons and dreams

Dragons are shrouded in a charm of mystery. Their power, their danger - and at the same time, their loneliness - make their image romantically sad. The dragon and the night, the dragon and the moon - these are the favorite themes for the work of many artists who saw in the winged snakes a symbol of the tormented incomprehensibility of the human soul.

Still, the main thing in a dragon is, perhaps, not a formidable fire in its mouth, but powerful wings. These wings make him look like a bird - a symbol of dreams and hope.

The flight of the dragon is an allegory of the creative flight of the individual, the fulfillment of his highest desires by him. That is why hitherto unseen dragons appeared in the art of modern times - kind, dreamy creatures, sometimes covered with feathers or even fur.

Such graceful and poetic creatures awaken imagination, make you raise your head high and look into the sky; and there, in the blue between white clouds, the kindest and most beloved dragon is already flying - a kite!