The artwork titled “Symbole Du Jour,” created by Abdul Mati Klarwein in 1984, is an exquisite piece of art belonging to the Magic Realism movement and categorized under the genre of landscape. It forms part of the “Inscapes” series. This particular piece exemplifies the intricacies and imaginative qualities of Magic Realism, wherein the natural world is depicted with a heightened sense of detail and a touch of the surreal.
The artwork presents a lush and dense landscape teeming with life and detail. The viewer’s eye is drawn into the depth of this vibrant ecosystem by a thin, snaking river — or perhaps a crack in the earth — that carves through the terrain, serving both as a physical focal point and a metaphorical divide. The representation of grass and foliage in the artwork is rendered with exceptional precision and attention to the consistency of natural light and shadow, which confers upon the scene a mesmerizing realism.
The palette is rich with earthen tones, emphasizing greenery and the texture of the soil, while the incorporation of a subtle medley of yellows and browns suggests an ecosystem at the height of its vitality. There is a mysterious symbol or glyph glowing red at the lower right, potentially indicative of a presence or force that is beyond the immediate perception of the natural world, a common thematic element within the broader genre.
Overall, the artwork is a testament to Klarwein’s significant prowess in blending the real with the mystical, inviting viewers to transcend their ordinary experiences and engage with an environment that is as enigmatic as it is concrete.
