Red Sea Symphony
by Gerburg Garmann
Red Sea Symphony. Digital art.
Red Sea Symphony is a digital reinterpretation of my acrylic painting, Daybreak, an original work defined by a dark, chiaroscuro style. The original piece, with its deep browns and subtle streaks of red, purple, orange, and gold, was a quiet meditation on light and form.
Daybreak. Acrylic and ink. 24 x 36 inches.
My inspiration for its digital transformation came from a rereading of the biblical Red Sea narrative. I was struck by how a single force—the wind—could serve two opposing purposes: destruction for the Egyptians and salvation for the Israelites. This powerful duality led me to wonder if my own painting could be similarly altered to signify something new and unexpected.
During a period of health challenges, I began to playfully manipulate the image of Daybreak. As the gentle waves twisted into the violent, swirling movements of the Red Sea, the colors burst forth, acting as a cathartic release of my anxieties. The vibrant, exploding hues not only evoke the awe the Israelites must have felt but also a deeply personal liberation.
The resulting artwork is a symphony of contrasting forces: the awe and surprise of a miraculous parting, and the raw release of personal frustration and anxiety. Red Sea Symphony ultimately embodies the powerful idea that even within chaos, a path to unexpected freedom can reveal itself.
Gerburg Garmann is a former professor of Global Languages and Cross-Cultural Studies at the University of Indianapolis, USA. Her scholarly publications appear in English, German, and French in international journals. Her artwork and poems have appeared in various magazines and anthologies around the world. She specializes in creating art for women.