O SIGILO MÁGICO NA ARTE CONTEMPORÂNEA

OS CASOS BARRY WILLIAM HALE E ELIJAH BURGHER

Abstract

Magic sigils are symbols produced for magical purposes since ancient times in different esoteric traditions. They became especially known under a modern format developed by the English artist Austin Osman Spare, in the first half of the 20th century, who united the traditional sigil with his personal artistic touch close to drawing and automatic writing. His technique has since been incorporated into contemporary magical traditions and also by different artists whose work is in some way connected to magic. Two artists will be presented as representatives of this trend: the Australian Barry William Hale, whose work brings together various European and Afro-American traditions, particularly linked to communication with spiritual entities, including candomblé; and the American Elijah Burgher, who establishes through his work a relationship between desire, sexual magic, and homosexuality. And beyond the use of sigils in the work of visual artists, their penetration into other areas of culture and the cultural industry will be considered.