Birth of Briareus in the Forest, 2021
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BRIAREUS
One of the fifty headed, one hundred handed (Hecatonchiere) triplets born to Gaia and Uranus. So abhorred by their father that they are re-inserted into their mother’s womb, Gaia, clawed at by her monstrous triplets from the inside births them in secret. Briareus is also known as Aegeon (his mortal name). Although the triplets are traditionally a team who aid Zeus to take down the Titans (their parents and siblings), in some poetry he is described as a traitor who attacked Zeus. The triplets as a trio often represent the forces of nature, with Briareus linked to the stormy see, an enemy of Poseidon. Here he is both warrior to be and vulnerable newborn, abandoned by his father but beloved by his mother who fails to notice he is a monster. Keeping the triplets single headed reflects Gaia’s distorted view of her children.
COTTUS
Grown up Cottus (warrior triplet on the top of the box). Cottus also only has one head, but keeps the hundred arms. His character is the grown up warrior that the umbilical cord would lead to. Cottus, name meaning ‘fish’ so association with water, hence the strong cyan. Tissue paper for skin, fragility of the monstrous.
GYGES
Also known as Gyes. The hidden triplet, buried underneath the resin layers in the top half of the work. Linked to the placenta through his turquoise umbilical cord. Half hidden, half human, the multiple arms and hands mixing with the trees belong to him.