artLIVE – Artist Martin Wittfooth has captured the metaphysical power and beauty of nature in his large-scale oil paintings. His latest solo exhibition, titled ‘Deus Ex Terra’, is a contemplation of the eternal rhythms of the earth and sky.
The artistic language of Martin Wittfooth
Martin Wittfooth is known for his symbolic paintings that depict animals in somber settings. He combines traditional European painting techniques with contemporary issues, particularly the human impact on nature.
Animals and birds are often the central figures in his work. They don’t just exist as aesthetic images but also as “witnesses” and “storytellers” of a world ravaged by industrialization, urbanization, and human indifference to the environment.
The artist uses a symbolic and mythological approach, turning animals into central characters that represent strength and endurance, yet also reflecting their fragility in the face of modern society’s constant changes.
Wittfooth frequently portrays animals in dark, atmospheric spaces. His use of oil painting techniques, combined with mystical light and haunting colors reminiscent of 17th-18th century European art, places the works in an ecologically cautionary context that feels both classic and timely.
Deus Ex Terra: A journey back to the origins
The Deus Ex Terra exhibition is impressive not only for the number of works but also for its diversity in form and scale. The small, delicate tondo paintings act as ‘windows’ into the unique universe of each element, while large-scale pieces like “Duel” command the entire space, drawing viewers into the fierce energy of nature.
In this series, horses become a dominant symbol. Known for their power and speed, in Wittfooth’s paintings, they are transformed into primordial elements of nature.
In the piece Aspect of Fire, the horse’s body burns, coiling like an endless flow of magma. Conversely, Aspect of Air is hazy like smoke and mist, both fragile and transcendent. These images create a direct link between life and the eternal energy cycles in which humanity is only a small part.
The title Deus Ex Terra (god from the earth) is a profound metaphor. Inspired by the ancient Latin phrase Deus Ex Machina, a theatrical device where a “god from the machine” descends to solve a plot’s problems, Wittfooth brings that “god” back to the earth. Here, nature itself is the deity, with its intrinsic powers of weather, seasons, and life’s flow. The artist’s message is that nature operates and regenerates on its own, without needing human intervention or control.
The Corey Helford Gallery representative shared: “The Hermetic principle, As above, so below; As within, so without, has been referenced for centuries in philosophy, esotericism, and art. In ‘Deus Ex Terra’ this principle becomes a guiding thread, showing that nature repeats its familiar patterns across all scales and times: from the branching of rivers and the veins of leaves to the spiral of galaxies, the curve of a seashell, or the turning of seasons, a breath, and a heartbeat”.
While his earlier works often exposed the fractured relationship between humans and nature through images of messy plastic landfills and barren stumps from logging, with Deus Ex Terra Wittfooth takes a different approach. Instead of emphasizing destruction, he seeks the primordial essence and enduring vitality of nature.
The ancient rhythms—like the cycle of seasons, growth, and rebirth—continue to operate despite the chaos and crises caused by humans. From this perspective, nature is not just a victim but a self-healing entity capable of maintaining and regenerating balance.
The artworks, therefore, go beyond a mere warning; they are an invitation for us to pause, listen, reflect, and seek healing amidst the current cultural and ecological upheavals.
The Deus Ex Terra exhibition is not just an impressive visual journey but also a quiet yet powerful reminder of humanity’s place in nature’s endless cycle. Amid ecological and social instability, Martin Wittfooth’s paintings offer a moment of reflection: nature inherently possesses the ability to function, regenerate, and heal. What remains depends on us—whether we are humble enough to listen and learn to move with that rhythm, instead of forcing and breaking it.
Martin Wittfooth, born in 1981 in Toronto, Canada, is a contemporary artist based in Savannah, Georgia (USA), renowned for his large-scale oil paintings imbued with a surreal atmosphere.
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