About

Psaltix is a visual arts project centered on the theme of angels with a particular focus on their “biblically accurate” forms, which have somehow become an internet meme in recent years, sometimes accompanied by the catchphrase “BE NOT AFRAID,” drawn from various biblical verses which describe such angelic apparitions.

The visual inspirations for the project are eclectic, as an attempt to draw a connecting line between a distant past and the current future we seem to be living in. They draw from ancient sacred art across multiple cultures, especially medieval christian art from the East and West, as well as contemporary iconography. Additional references are taken directly from biblical and patristic writings on mystical theology, concerning the role, symbolism and attributes of angelic beings.

The basic visual pattern of angels which has been retained consists of a central element surrounded by a set of eye-covered wings, which is the usual form of seraphim and cherubim in most icons and frescoes. Traditionally, the central element would be a human face, or sometimes an animal (bull, ox or eagle) but in the context of this project, a wider range of experiments will be proposed such as screens, clocks, helmets, masks or even purely abstract shapes. The circular pattern of wheels attributed to the Ophanim also holds a decent spot in many creations.

In that sense, there could be said to have a particular focus on the three highest ranks of angels, according to the Celestial Hierarchy of St Dionysius the Areopagite (namely seraph, cherub and throne) as those are supposed to be the most distant and alien kind of angelic beings.

This pictural and conceptual framework is then re-interpreted with great creative freedom and realized in the modern format of short seamless loops. The aesthetic incorporates elements of contemporary internet art, GIF art, crypto art, street art, generative patterns, maths, fractals, postmodern abstraction, contemporary illustration, sci-fi interfaces, anime, and video games among others.

Moreover, while being clearly outside of the boundaries of religious iconography, an effort is made to stay in line with a set of loosely defined principles that could be said to frame the general practice of neo-byzantine art :

- Two dimensional graphics (shape layers animated from basic properties)
- Clarity and fluidity of lines (consistent two pixels wide stroke)
- Tension between abstraction and figuration (abstract wings around figurative faces)
- Composition parallel to the picture plane (symmetry)
- Reverse perspective (distant objects appear bigger, close objects smaller)
- Emphasis on making the subject present (centered eyes)
- Life and rhythmic unity (seamless loops with synchronized motion)
- Active move towards the viewer (hypnotic qualities)
- Overriding of the limits of spacetime (no beginning or end)

One of the core idea behind the project is also to reclaim the psychedelic/visionary aspect of the Christian narrative, which holds a special place in prophetic visions such as the ones witnessed in the books of Daniel, Ezekiel and Revelation. The hope is therefore to humbly contribute to the general effort of reenchanting the modern materialistic world, which seems to have lost sight of the invisible realms of spirits and angels, regardless of the way one would understand these terms. We believe it is of high importance to consider once again the questions pertaining to non-human intelligences, wether they be animal, technological or spiritual.

Individual asset designs are first sketched on paper with fine ink pens, scanned, traced as vectors in Illustrator, and then imported into After Effects for animation. None of the designs or animations are AI-generated.

The video loops, assets, packs and bundles are aimed at musicians, video editors, content creators, labels, agencies, performers, artists, film studios, game developers, broadcasters, production companies, and other creative professionals, with three licence tiers designed to accommodate applications ranging from live performances and personal use to online media and large-scale commercial productions.

Thank you for attention and please remember to be not afraid,
Lucas