Rebirth
On the Hebrew calendar, the month of Elul is the last of the year, preceding Rosh Hashanah. This year, it began on August 23rd of the common Gregorian calendar. Elul is traditionally a time of reflection on the year that is coming to a close, and of setting fresh intentions for the year to come. In this spirit, my local synagogue put out a call for art submissions for a juried group show titled “Renewal.” It’s a fitting theme for the new year, as the wheel of time turns and we strive to renew our positive aspirations.
The instant as I saw this announcement, this painting popped into my head. It appeared as a complete image, which landed on top of the pile of all the other images in my head. Temporarily putting my other work aside, I started this painting right away. It slipped out onto the canvas rather quickly – like a baby born with a few easy contractions. Sometimes our offspring just slip out. Such was the case with this painting. Two days later, Rebirth was finished and delivered to the synagogue, where it was accepted for the group show.
But this painting was not just conceived by Elul and its concomitant reflections. This painting is the child of two parents: the concept of renewal, and the miracle of the rhizosphere – a subject I was delving into at the time by reading a book on soil biology. The rhizosphere is the underground realm of roots, soil, worms, mycelium, protozoa, and millions of bacteria that form the living substance of the world beneath our feet. Without these microorganisms, the metabolites they produce, and the nutrient cycling they perform, there would be no soil, no ecosystem – no life. Breakdown and renewal are constantly happening in intricate, overlapping succession.
The life force of this flower is represented by a woman, who personifies the energy that enables plants to grow. As part of the soil, she embodies roots, mycelium, and all the elements that assemble themselves into a flower. Re-emerging as a flesh-colored blossom, she reaches toward the sun, rapturous at her own transformation.
Apart from being an artist, I’m also an integrative health coach, production manager and writer for a medicinal mushroom company, and nutrition writer – all of which has led me into the world of biochemistry and the microbiome, both of humans and the earth. Life beneath the surface is infinitely fascinating. And like the image above, whatever captivates my imagination transforms and reemerges through my art.
More images like this one are bound to come, as I embark upon a fat biochemistry textbook this winter. My personal intention for the year 5786 is to gain a deeper understanding of how life sustains and renews itself, and to gather what I learn into images and words.
As in life, so in art.
Rebirth is for sale. Please inquire for more information if you’re interested.
A good week to all!
D. Yael Bernhard
https://dyaelbernhard.com
Have you seen my other Substack, The Art of Health? In addition to being a visual artist, I’m also a certified integrative health & nutrition coach with a lifelong passion for natural food cooking and herbal medicine. Now in its second year, this illustrated newsletter explores cutting-edge concepts of nutrition. I strive to make relevant information clear and accessible, and to anchor essential health concepts in unique images. Check it out, and if you like it, please subscribe and help spread the word. Your support keeps my work going!