Jessie Rose Vala "The Rising Dawn" (detail) 2007 from "The Torturous Veil" series
I am flipping over the work of Jessie Rose Vala. The giant netherworlds she creates are so intricate and magical I swear her pencil must be a wand. She depicts young women taking perilous - and ultimately transformational - journeys, where they encounter such creatures as harpies, werewolves, and shrouded sorcerers as well as myriad other threats and enchantments. The narrative is thrillingly ambiguous, as the stories are told by Vala via winding visual pathways, which recall the sequential, sacred art of cultures past (Tibetan, Egyptian, and alchemical works spring to mind). As such, the act of looking becomes a journey in itself for the viewer.
It appears these drawings are often displayed as parts of larger installations, and you can get a sense of what they look like by clicking around on Vala's site. You can also purchase her recently released set of books, The Torturous Veil/Sketchbook here. Nothing, though, can replace the experience of viewing these environments in person, so be sure to keep an eye on her news page for when they come to a town near you.
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