I AM, 18" x 24", acrylic on canvas panel© Rick Jacobi 2015
The title of this painting refers to God's reply to Moses when Moses asks God what his name is. God, appearing as a burning bush, tells Moses that his name is "I Am That I Am" (also translated as "I Will Be What I Will Be").
There are a number of symbols in this painting. I have used the alchemical/tarot symbols for fire (upward-pointing red triangle) and water (downward-pointing blue triangle); these of course also represent male/female. Earth and air are also present, rounding out the four basic elements of alchemy and tarot. While this is not an image of a seraph, the six wings could be somewhat suggestive of that. The snakes form a vesica piscis. The glyphs on the winged triangle spell out "I AM" in "Enochian script", as developed by the 16th century English occultist John Dee. The eye in the triangle is often referred to as "the all-seeing eye". It has recently in popular culture become pretty well-known as a symbol of the Illuminati. However, it has historically been known as the eye of God, and is referred to as the Eye of Providence by the Freemasons.
We also see a number of UFOs in this painting-- this refers to the possibility of extraterrestrial "help" in the creation of life on earth, particularly human life. There is a mysterious glyph on the bottom-- this is something I came up with a while back-- it does not have a specific meaning that I am aware of, but it's one of those things that the viewer can "read into". I think it may have to do with the expansion and reaching out of the creative force, or something like that, which would make sense given the theme of this painting.
And finally, the eye in the center: this was not part of my original sketch, but it came to me late in the process. When it hit me, it totally made sense-- this radiant eye represents the all of everything that exists, the universal creator, a.k.a. God.
