Elisabeth Bauer

The mural is a composition of symbols and colors inspired by Cretan folk art throughout history to the last detail, especially textile art - embroidery, knitting and carpet designs. The more I found out about Cretan culture, the more I felt their strong sense of identity and individuality. Inspite of the fact that there were so many outside influences, the Cretans courage to fight for preserving it has remained strong. I am definitely coming back to this beautiful island to take more time to explore it and it's history. 💙

The double-headed eagle is a symbol from Byzantine times and the duality of the church - stretching East and West, as well as a symbol of freedom from Ottoman occupation, now a symbol of the Orthodox church. The two-tailed mermaid is from Venetian influence, and it's often also explained as being a passage between the physical and spiritual. Carnations are traditionally a symbol commonly found in Ottoman art, and in Greek Mythology they're known as the flowers of Gods. The colors I picked are inspired by Minoan frescoes, the Deep Red, Brilliant Blue, and Red Earth all form a link to the most ancient history of the island.

​

I painted this mural as part of the residency program of Mathew Halpin in October in Heraklion, Crete, Greece. I had the best time exploring the local culture and art scene, and got to be in this wonderful artistic space that Mathew has created. I could learn and reflect my studies into this mural, which, as Mathew put it, is like a "gift to the local community", and that was exactly what I was aiming for. The opportunity to work with Mathew has been one of a kind. His expertise and artistic insight taught me a lot and I greatly appreciate it! ✨