Crystalline 1975

Gebre Kristos Desta’s painting “Crystalline” features a cluster of geometric forms that evoke a sense of fragmented beauty and underlying energy. The central motif, resembling a stylized flower or a crystalline structure, pulsates with vibrant colors, suggesting growth, transformation, and the hidden orders within nature. This motif echoes the ancient symbol of the rosette, found in cultures from Mesopotamia to ancient Greece, representing cosmic order and divine beauty. The flower-like shape may be an allusion to the symbolic rose, a sign of love or martyrdom. Notice how the image contains an inner eye, which can be seen in artworks such as mandalas, and, thus, symbolizes spiritual awakening. The painting invites us to reflect on the cyclical nature of existence. It underscores how shapes and meanings are not fixed but continuously evolve, engaging our collective memory and subconscious on a profound level.