The Mystic Otto Rapp

Bogomil's Universe

Bogomil's Universe is an excursion into the realms of the "Inner Universe" - a parallel universe that exists in the mind, and glimpses thereof are presented here. I am increasingly reluctant to speak of my work as strictly and exclusively surrealistic. While Surrealism provided the initial spark, and some of the methods of Surrealism are employed, I do not suppress the influence of the rational and selective focus. Thus, particularly in later works, there is to be found a conscious juxtapositioning of the complementary forces of inspiration and reason.
I do not concern myself with the elimination of the rational, the exclusivity of the irrational and the absurd, but presentation of the conscious and subconscious world as an inseparable whole. I draw my inspirations from the layered labyrinthic underground which represents the "other side" of life, which is an "inner" imaginative-inspirational counterpart to the "outer" world, expressed with the help of logic-alogic associations, analogisations and symbolism.
The paintings in the cyclus "Bogomil's Universe" are derived by creating textural surfaces, the method of "Decalcomania" as pioneered by the Surrealists, letting color, consistency and flow of the paint determine initial shapes, which are then interpreted by adding onto, or deleting. In the later works, films of gossamer-thin acrylics are stripped from non-absorbent supports (such as glass or plastic) and affixed, in a collage-like fashion, to the painting.
An article about gnostic Bogomils of 10th Century Bulgaria inspired the title of the first painting in the cyclus: "Bogomil's Vegetable Garden".
For a time in history, the term "bogomilism" seemed to be associated, or synonymous with, outlandish and unorthodox beliefs. This, and the gnostic doctrine of dualism are the only touching points: at no time have I attempted to represent a literal, illustrative interpretion of the theme. Indeed, the detailed and lushly textured images presented would be anathema to the bogomil belief that matter is irredeemably evil.
My interest in Religion and Mythology is particularly expressed in my drawings. Technically, they are counterpoint to the Bogomil Cyclus paintings, relying almost entirely on the action of the sharpened pencil point on virginal paper, as opposed to textured surfaces as inspirational departure points in my paintings. In both instances however, the outcome is not pre-determined. The act of painting or drawing is a memorable trip into the uncharted realms of the "Inner Universe", the results of which are presented to you here after the fact.

Exhibition Introduction September 1983