Blue Velvet 2016

Albrecht Behmel’s “Blue Velvet” is composed of myriad shapes, each outlined and filled with vibrant hues, set against a light blue background. The interlocked, puzzle-like figures evoke an ancient labyrinth, a recurring motif in cultures around the world, from the Minoan Crete to medieval cathedrals. These mazes were not merely decorative. They represented a journey of initiation, a quest for knowledge. The path was fraught with challenges, meant to test the traveler's resolve. Consider Theseus, who navigated the Cretan labyrinth to face the Minotaur, a symbol of our innermost fears and desires. The labyrinth has evolved. It became a metaphor for the complex pathways of the human mind, a concept explored by Freud. Like a dream, “Blue Velvet” pulls us into its symbolic maze, engaging our subconscious. It reveals that art is not just a product of its time, but a dialogue with the collective unconscious, a rediscovery of ancient symbols that continue to resonate today.