Series Chess of Marina Valuyskaya and Runes
I created four sets of chess and used them for these compositions.
The newest series of my works is called “Nine-dimensional Universe on the chessboard”. It reflects a world that was created by intersection of two symbol systems, namely chess and runes. This series is based on German-Scandinavian mythology. The mythology is about God Odin and nine Worlds of the Universe that reflect not only an outer world, but also an inner state of a man, his value system and desires. The paintings are accompanied with my verses of skaldic type of poetry.
Odin
There are nine worlds of the Universe before us.
And Odin hears our desires:
Odin is one of us.
He obtained wisdom with a great price.
He lightened the way for us.
He is walking with us through the ice and the fire
To the secret depths and to the discovery peaks…
Will you be able to cognize
The nine worlds that are dimensions of the Universe?
You were given a chance after all
From Odin who is one of us.
Midgard
The chaos of movement…
The orders of heaven…
Do the plains hear it?
Do the mountains see it?
What if the victory was achieved at the cost of dishonour?
What if the crowns shine with blood spots?
Does it have any value? Or is it junk?
Muspelheim
There are good (weal) and sorrow in the fire dancing.
Huge thurs can do a lot.
But when mind is melted it becomes uncontrollable.
Namely it sculpts (models) monsters and burns stems
And suddenly the gold that you hold in your hand begins to boil …
Will you desire that kind of reward
When an obstacle becomes a pile of ashes?
Niflheim
In the world of shadows and cold mists
Your thoughts and plans are chained with ice.
A frozen moment became Eternity
And water softness metamorphosed into (turned into) metal hardness.
Vanaheim
There are alternatives in the world of events.
There are as many of them as different ideas there.
(There are as many alternatives as different ideas in the world of events.)
The changing of masks and the thickening of colours
Became more contrast as years go by and became quicker as centuries passing by!
But what makes us to recur
Using images of different times and people?
Jotunheim
The power of intelligence and imagination,
The blue sky and the fire of thought
Will show the way into another reality.
And what kind of reality will it be?
Alfheim
A moment of being in Alfheim is
A happy insight.
The lighting of truth illuminated a face in there.
It’s hard to keep it in hand,
One thousand volt is a great power.
What should be down?
Should one try to catch a moment?
Or should he remember the picture better?
Svartalfheim
If the Sun of the Mind doesn’t shy,
Then Moon Ray becomes a guide in the darkness.
The subconsciousness world is full of riddles and
Countless riches,
But… they are all hidden.
Hel
Hel lies impossibly deep.
Hel is situated in the lowest place. Will never get out.
It’s the stop. That’s all. For how long?
It’s forever. Only the Gods
Will help to come back to Midgard.
Asgard
If you catch Valkyrie’s fancy
Consider you have received an invitation to Asgard.
What is there? Nobody returned from there.
Maybe it’s Heaven or maybe it’s…
A Midgard-Asgard way riddle
Edda’s view at the Universe is clear.
Worlds of the Universe are connected with Yggdrasil.
It is a Great Ash Tree
Which branches are swayed
By winds of Asgard that is the World of Gods.
Midgard is the world of humans.
The way from Midgard to Asgard lies
Across the Rainbow Bridge.
That way is very complicate one.
It is guarded by giant named Heimdallr.
He is never asleep.
He can watch despite darkness.
He can even hear
A growth of fleece.
So how could a man get over
The way from Midgard to Asgard?
Because your breath and heart beat
Will betray you.
But being without them
Means only a highway to the Niflheimr.
It’s the Yggdrasil roots’ place
That is the Land of the Dead.
It’s so hard to get free,
But the one who will cognize
The Great Mystery
And the Great Intricacy
Will be able to see
An earing of rye
That rose from ashes
In the unsown places.
And courage Vikings
Who are resigned to their Fate
Will return to life again
And evil will become good.