SALVATORE TESTA, Explorer of the Unknown - Testa

Explorer of the Unknown
Canvas size: 73x98 cm with central bar, slat 50x20 mm
Cotton canvas.

The background is dark—yet a darkness enlivened by a lunar glow. A light that watches over and reassures the wanderer, in a metaphysical sense. The larger bird belongs to the conventional world, while the smaller one masters the darkness of mystery and peers into the conventional world, inviting the explorer to follow it.

The helmet hints at a style reminiscent of the ancient Romans. These are elements that should not be interpreted through traditional or conventional correspondences, but rather by trying to directly perceive the overall meaning. This meaning is surreal—but certainly, the helmet gives the wanderer the aspect of a warrior. For the explorer of the unknown is a fearless individual. It is no coincidence that in Andean shamanic culture, the followers of shamans, as described in Castaneda’s books, are referred to as “warriors.”