Comments on: Visionary Art: The Vanguard of Tradition by Erik Davis

By: Zemara Imdugud

Zemara Imdugud — Fri, 27 May 2011 14:22:53 +0000

Hi, Denita! You can read this article as a first step – http://hermetic.com/bey/mundus_imaginalis.htm But Henry Corbin was the first and unique 20 century westener reader and translator of the great sufi visionary philosopher Suhrawardi – *In 1928 he encountered the formidable Louis Massignon, director of Islamic studies at the Sorbonne, and it was he who introduced Corbin to the writings of Suhrawardi, the 12th century Persian mystic and philosopher whose work was to profoundly affect the course of Corbin’s life. The stage was then set for a personal drama that has deep significance for understanding those cultures whose roots lie in both ancient Greece and in the prophetic religions of the Near East reaching all the way back to Zoroaster. Years later Corbin said “through my meeting with Suhrawardi, my spiritual destiny for the passage through this world was sealed. Platonism, expressed in terms of the Zoroastrian angelology of ancient Persia, illuminated the path that I was seeking.”*
His undersanding is formed by this school of illumination, but you should read something about Ibn Arabi and Mulla Sadra Shirazi at least….. http://www.amiscorbin.com/textes/anglais/Hist_Iran_Phil_Corbin_part_I.pdf

By: J.A. Borgesse

J.A. Borgesse — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 05:22:39 +0000

Most of the contemporary articles and essays on visionary art I have thus far read
advocate in some manner, a desireable lconnection with visionary art traditions from the past. In your opinion, where does this school of thought place artists who consider themselves visionary, but whose work is intentionally disconnected from this past?

By: Alex Grey : Net of Being | Lila

Alex Grey : Net of Being | Lila — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 13:41:07 +0000

[...] Visionary Art: The Vanguard of Tradition by Erik Davis [...]

By: Denita Benyshek

Denita Benyshek — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:45:23 +0000

Hello, Eric. This is an excellent little piece of writing and I agree w/ you about definition of visionary artist including those who are academically trained (as I am). In addition to being an artist, I am also working on a PhD in Psychology of Consciousness and Spirituality. My question is this: do you know which particular work of Corbin’s discusses mundus imaginalis? Topic is directly related to my work on contemporary artist as shaman. Thanks!

By: Daniel Mirante

Daniel Mirante — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:06:39 +0000

Good point Aaron. I like the idea of integrating the worlds cultures through art, but it has to be asked if this sacrifices the internal symbolic integrity of the different mythos. (ie, the different symbolism of the dragon across different mystical traditions can lead to ‘symbolic mis-translations’ when one view of the dragon is used outside of context).
I think the key could be, instead of superimposing the different systems upon one another, to see them as distinct routes to the Divine. It may be more useful to actually simply rediscover and honour the depth in any particular system, but to also hold the awareness that a cultures mythos and symbols are ‘transparent’ to the Divine.

By: Aaron McKusick

Aaron McKusick — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:07:34 +0000

I am grateful to Davis for his introduction of the Mundus Imaginalis to the discussion of visionary art, and am sympathetic to the role of the visionary artist in an emerging global culture. However, I have been having some trouble with the issue of appropriation. I am wondering where is the line between speaking of the experience of the sacred, pointing to genuine spiritual truths and simply appropriating language, symbols, and icons that have evolved over centuries within cultures whose intentions had little if nothing to do with each other. Granted there is appropriating in the abusive sense, using elements of Zen in a commercial to sell a car. Though where does one delineate between a valid artist, practicing Buddhist like Alex Grey, who (no disrespect intended) is known to appropriate symbols, and your run of the mill new age Kitsch? Could Davis, Grey, or anyone help clarify the discrepancies?

By: Jewyl stevens

Jewyl stevens — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 03:56:50 +0000

I think the art work is beatiful and it talks to me:)