Ad Astra

acrylics on canvas
imitation gold leaf
81 x 100 cm
2021

available // 450 €

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The colours of the photos are adjusted to be as true to real life as possible; however, blue shades often differ a bit in different displays. The blues in this painting are intensive ultramarine, deep teal, and a vivid blueish purple.

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”opta ardua pennis astra sequi”
Latin // 'the desire to pursue the high [/hard to reach] stars on wings', from Virgil

”ad astra”
Latin // ‘towards the stars

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some of us
whether we wanted or not
have been born
with wings on our backs

sparrow’s wings,
eagle’s wings,
the restless wings of far-flying swallows…

and for some reason
only those who possess the gift of flying
can see the longing in each other -

the others, they say: come down!
settle down! make a nest, calm down!
don’t climb so high,
you’ll hurt yourself
if you don’t stay on the ground.

but they don’t know, they can’t see
the stars in the eyes of the winged ones;

if you’ve been born here with wings in your mind
you’ll never be able to stop longing higher.

surely, stars are
far away

but those who know the way
won’t grow weary on the journey;

for what can be better
than to rise
towards the stars


// kv