JEWELLERY, DECORATIVE & FINE ARTS AUCTION Tuesday, 5 December 2023 - 10:00 AM start

Mark Ryden (UK 1963-) 'The Tree of Life'

Lot Details

offset lithograph on heavy paper. Ltd. Ed. 175/500, dated 2010. 820 x 530mm. Note: The Tree of Life (2006) is one of Mark Ryden’s most recognizable paintings from his 2007 exhibition ‘The Tree Show’ that opened at the Michael Kohn Gallery in Los Angeles. The artist was deeply inspired by the tree, noting that ‘the tree goes beyond being a mere symbol of the universe and is actually an echo of how reality is shaped. I see this pattern of the tree everywhere.’ The tree is significant in many religious and spiritual contexts. In Buddhism, for instance, the Buddha achieved enlightenment while meditating under the Bodhi tree. Specifically, The Tree of Life is a symbol of spiritual growth, and in The Tree of Life Ryden draws inspiration from different cultures. The Kabbalist Tree of Life is a means through which one can connect with the divine source. Yaxche, the Mayan Tree of Life unites between the three realms, the underworld, the earth and the heavens.