Inspired by the cosmogony of Templo Guaracy, João Makray, explored the universe of the Orixás to reveal through his art some of their manifestations in nature. Much more than divine ancestors or personified mythical gods, João’s Orixás bring to life all the dynamics of nature.
Sixteen Orixás follow a sequence named Xirê by Templo Guaracy. The word Xirê translates as dance or wheel and evokes the elaborate organization of the forces of nature born with the creation of the world.
According to Guaracyan Cosmogony, at some point in eternity, light – the original substance of the universe – concentrated, acquired consciousness of the space and expanded. This explosion, and the subsequent fragmentation of light, known by scientists as the Big Bang, gave birth to a trinity: Light, Consciousness and Energy. The three of them expanded at the same time in a unified manner. However, while Light and Consciousness progressed in a linear and parallel fashion, Energy started losing intensity and acquiring density. Energy then distanced itself gradually from the point of origin creating a descending curve from which the Xirê emerged revealing the manifestation of life on Earth.
This extraordinary dynamic of the Orixás runs through a mandala of the four elements of nature in a continuous and infinite spiral. The Xirê begins with the primordial Fire of Elegbara that transforms into Earth and Water until it reaches the great synthesis of light in the Air, Oxalá.
To accompany each print, a compilation of words was harvested from the wonderful Guaracyan vision of the Orixás. The intention of these words is merely to help navigate towards the encounter with the sacred nature through the eloquent art of João Makray.
Fire Quadrant
The Fire Orixás – Elegbara, Ogum, Oxumarê and Xangô – open the way from creation to crystallization. They represent the origin and the starting point. They can be found at the south quadrant from where the sequence of the 16 Orixás unfolds in a clockwise dynamic to complete the Xirê and its four directions.
Earth Quadrant
The Earth Orixás – Obaluaiê, Oxóssi, Ossãe and Obá – represent the physical and concrete reality of life. It is the cycle of health and subsistence. Acting as a bridge between the elements of Fire and Water, the Earth Orixás follow a sequence according to the amount of Water they retain, from driest to dampest.
Earth Quadrant
The Water Orixás – Nanã, Oxum, Iemanjá and Ewá – are related to all feelings and emotions. They follow the natural process of the Waters, from the springs to the oceans all the way to evaporation. Water stands at the north of the Xirê, opposite to Fire in the south. The cycle of Fire is associated to potency and the cycle of Water brings consciousness, thus creating the balance of dualities.
Air Quadrant
The Air Orixás – Iansã, Tempo, Ifá and Oxalá – lose gradually their physical representation. After Iansã, they can only be perceived with our mind and spirit.