Original artwork description:

The Celestial Horses of Tengri series.

Here is the new series of art inspired by Tengri, also known as Tengeri - a deity in the traditional shamanistic beliefs of the Central Asian nomadic peoples. Tengri is often considered the supreme god, representing the eternal blue sky, and is a central figure in Tengrism, the ancient belief system of these cultures.

In ancient lore, after Tengri, the Sky God, created the heavens and the earth, he placed a sacred staff between them. Tied to this staff were the celestial horses, forever roaming across the sky. The breath of Tengri became the wind and clouds, his voice echoed as thunder, his right eye became the Sun, and his left eye, the Moon. During storms, Tengri wields thunder and lightning to strike down the evil spirits that threaten the harmony of gods and mankind.

Meeting of the skies: before the storm.

Horses, when they meet, often greet each other by sniffing each other's breath. This is a gesture not only for unfamiliar horses but also for those well-acquainted. We, as humans, say it’s a way to truly "know what one breathes." In the painting, dark clouds loom over distant hills, hinting at an approaching storm. In moments like these, understanding who can be trusted and the dynamics between one another becomes vital. It’s a wordless exchange of knowledge—about oneself and others—just before the storm breaks.

Materials used:

oil, canvas

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