Laurence Caruana is a Maltese artist, author and lecturer presently living in France.
He is best-known for his contribution to the Visionary Art movement, having created a significant body of works in the Classical style while authoring articles and books (even its first manifesto) and founding The Vienna Academy of Visionary Art.
His highly-detailed paintings explore the interplay of myths, symbols & styles from different cultural traditions ~ always seeking the greater unity at their source.
EMAIL:
visionnaire@lcaruana.com
For years, the artist led an itinerant existence, having lived variously in Toronto, Malta, Vienna, Munich, Monaco and Paris. His travels also led him through Asia, Europe and Central America, backpacking to broaden his sacred horizons and enrich his passion for religious iconographies.
L. Caruana has dedicated much of his life to the pursuit of ‘the ancient Image Language’ - the idea that images may be meaningfully arranged in dreams, visions and art to bear their own unique message. This visual language possesses its own unique logic (or ‘iconologic’) that allows us to think through mythic and symbolic images in such a way that they reveal the fundamental relationship between life and the Sacred. This is most-clearly stated in his book Enter Through the Image where he concludes that “Life is a gradual unfolding of the Sacred.”
Born in Toronto Canada of Maltese descent, L. Caruana is a graduate of The University of Toronto (B.A. Hons. Philosophy) and also studied classical techniques of painting in the traditional manner of master and apprentice, having assisted Prof. Ernst Fuchs in his studios in Monaco and Castillon.
After emigrating to Europe in 1993, he met the French artist/dancer Florence Cuepaliztli Ménard in Munich. Together, the couple moved to the Bastille quarter of Paris, where they lived for twelve years before buying a farmhouse in the Burgundy region of France. During this time, Caruana began writing and editing The Visionary Revue, an online journal that chronicled the movement, while also creating The Summer Seminar at Torri Superiore Italy, where the Mischtechnik is transmitted each summer to a new generation of Visionary artists.
In 2012, the couple co-founded The Vienna Academy of Visionary Art, which eventually expanded across three floors into a studio, exhibition hall and cultural space. After seven years, they returned to France to pursue a new project, a centre for cultural activities called The Apocryphon Chapel, which will depict the over-arching myth of Gnostic Christianity in twelve large-scale paintings.
L. Caruana has exhibited his works internationally, from museums in Paris to Transformational festivals. When he’s not hard at work in his Burgundy studio, he continues to promote Visionary Art through his many travels, lectures and talks.
THE VISIONARY ART OF L. CARUANA
~ Life as a Gradual Unfolding of the Sacred ~
A 35-minute video on my life & work,
told in the first person.
CHRONOLOGY
– Born February 16, 1962 in Toronto Canada, of Maltese descent
HUMBER VALLEY – TORONTO
– Grew up next to Lambton forest, James gardens, and the Humber river. Frequent walks in the forest and frequent visits to island homeland of Malta in the Mediterranean
– Showed a marked fascination with drawing and dreams as a child.
1976 – 1981 – HIGH SCHOOL – TORONTO
– First formal studies in painting, sculpture, and art history under Theodore Samotowka
– Discovered Surrealism, and the works of Salvador Dali
– First works inspired by Surrealism; drawings became dream-like and enigmatic.
1981 – 1985 – UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
– Studied Ancient Greek and German Philosophy. Read Pre-Socratics, Nietzsche, Freud, Heidegger and Jung.
– Graduated Bachelor of Arts (Hons)
– Began recording dreams
– Wrote Scream of Consciousness, illustrated with sculptures expressing mythic and archetypal themes.
1986 – MAGICUS THEATRE – TORONTO
– Wrote, directed, and acted in plays (Reznikoff, Buried Mirrors) while making films (Psychologica, What Dwells in Man, Eternal Return). All works explored the themes of madness, dreams and the unconsciousness.
1987 – WESTERN EUROPE
– Extensive travels, studying Gothic and Northern Renaissance art (Van Eyck, Van der Weyden, Bosch) as well as Italian Renaissance (Da Vinci, Michelangelo). Travel journal: European Pilgrimage.
1988 – 1989 – TORONTO
– Upon return, abandoned the collaborative arts of theatre and film to concentrate on painting and writing in solitude
– Began a series of Gothic paintings, such as The Dance of Death
– Published Fragments, a collection of essays, poems and plays
– Began wandering through Europe.
1990 – 1991 – VIENNA (Neubau Viertel)
– Studied painting at the Akademie der Bildende Künste
– Discovered Fantastic Realism and the works of Ernst Fuchs
– Frequently sketched ancient Greek, Egyptian and Aztec works in museums, while studying mythology in the writings of Campbell, Eliade, Zimmer and Frye
– Developed Old Masters approach to painting while mixing myths and symbols from different cultures.
1991 – EASTERN EUROPE
– Extensive travels, visiting monasteries and studying Byzantine art and iconography. Travel journal: Voyage to Byzantium.
1992 – 1993 – MALTA (Mellieha)
– Began Meditations of a Heretic, a novel set in Malta, based on its cultural myths
– Began paintings inspired by visionary dreams and expanded through sacred art and myth.
1993 – 1996 – MUNICH (Alt Schwabing, Haidhausen)
– First extensive experiments with entheogens
– Met Florence Ménard
– Began Enter Through the Image, a lengthy study of the logic underlying arrangements of images in myth, art, and dreams
– Further pursuit of paintings based on ‘the interplay of art, myth and dreams’.
1996 – 2000 – PARIS (Montmartre, Quartier Latin, Bastille)
– Marriage to Florence Ménard
– Continued symbolic experiments in painting
– Bought and renovated studio in the Bastille quarter
– Worked with Ernst Fuchs on murals in the Apocalypse Chapel in Klagenfurt, Austria
2000 – 2001 – MONACO (Castillon)
– Apprenticed under the master Visionary artist Ernst Fuchs for one year, assisting on his larger paintings in his studio on the Quai des Artistes in Monaco and his home Castel Caramel in Castillon
– Wrote A First Draft of A Manifesto of Visionary Art
– Exhibitions: l’Art Imaginaire (Monaco)
2001 – 2002 – PARIS (Bastille)
– Launched The Visionary Revue: The Electronic Journal of Visionary Art
– Published A First Draft of A Manifesto of Visionary Art on-line and in a limited edition of 200 signed and numbered copies
– Exhibitions: Art of the Imagination (London), Parfums de Femmes (Paris)
2003 – N. AFRICA, ASIA
– Travelled through Egypt, India, Nepal and Tibet for three months, studying Egyptian, Hindu and Buddhist art Travel journal: A Visionary Journey to the East
2003 – 2006 – PARIS (Bastille)
– Published the second and third issues of The Visionary Revue, the Johfra and Kalmakoff issues
– Launched the French version of the Manifesto - Le manifeste de l'art visionnaire
– Wrote: The Hidden Passion: A Novel of the Gnostic Christ, Based on the Nag Hammadi Texts
– Exhibitions: Chiméria (Sedane), Dalis Erben Malen Europa (Wolnzach, Munich), La Mort Transfigurée (Paris)
2006 – CENTRAL AMERICA
– Travelled through Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras for two months, studying Mayan and Aztec art. Travel journal: Mayan Vision Quest
2007 – 2010 – PARIS (Bastille)
– Publication of The Hidden Passion: A Novel of the Gnostic Christ Based on the Nag Hammadi Texts
– Launched GnosticQ.com: A Source for Gnostic Studies
– Launched the 4th issue of The Visionary Revue on Entheogens
– Entheologue with Alex Grey at The Chapel of Sacred Mirrors in the Chelsea district of New York
– Held first of many Visions in the Mischtechnik painting seminars in Torri Superiore Italy in 2008
– Publication of Enter Through the Image: The Ancient Image Language of Myth, Art & Dreams
– Exhibitions: Guest of Honour at Chiméria – Festival International des Arts Visionnaires (Sedan, France), plus: Metageum (Malta), Liminal Village Boom Festival (Portugal), Interdimensional Art Tour (San Francisco, Montreal, Seattle, Eugene), The Fountain Oracle Gathering (Washington)
– Conferences & panel discussions: Metageum (Malta), Colloque sur les Hallucinations (Paris), Liminal Village Boom Festival (Portugal), Chiméria Festival (Sedan, France)
2010 – 2012 – BURGUNDY (Nièvre)
– After the birth of our son, bought a farmhouse south of Paris, in the Burgundy region of France
– Moved to the farmhouse while maintaining an apartment in Paris. Began pursuing Permaculture
– Publication of The First Manifesto of Visionary Art in a new open edition
– Solo Exhibition La Pouvoir des Mythes at Galerie de l’Art Visionnaire de Paris including Live Painting & Chants, later filmed by IF tv
– Solo Exhibition at l’Espace Beauvais, St. Saulge, France
– Organized group exhibition EnQuête du Sacré at Galerie de l’Art Visionnaire de Paris and at Chiméria - Festival International des Arts Visionnaires (Sedan, France)
– Painting workshop Express Your Energy in Paint with 300 participants at The Boom Festival, Portugal
– Painting workshops Enter Through the Image at The Omega Institute, Rheinbeck N.Y. (Sept 2012 and May 2013)
– Art Spirit Now – Exhibition and presentations, Boulder Colorado, May 2013
– CoSM Workshop Visualizing Shape into Form with Maura Holden, plus Visionary Salon with Alex & Allyson Grey (Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, Wappinger NY - June 2013)
– Two works included in the Dreams & Divinities book and exhibition (Toledo Spain)
– On-going Visions in the Mischtechnik painting seminars, every summer in Torri Superiore Italy
2013 – 2015 – VIENNA (Josefstadt)
– Moved to Vienna
– Co-founded The Vienna Academy of Visionary Art in the Palais Palffy across from the Hofburg Palace. Served in the capacity of Director and Principle Lecturer
– Release of the Manifesto in Portuguese translation: O Preimero Manifesto da Arte Visionaria
– Organized series of events at The O.Z.O.R.A Festival Hungary (Aug 2014) including workshops, exhibitions, lectures and the live painting of a collective Healing Mandala (White Tara) which was ritually activated
2016 – 2020 – VIENNA (Josefstadt)
– Moved The Vienna Academy of Visionary Art from The Palais Palffy to the Otto Wagner Building at Döblergasse 2 - 1070 Vienna. Continued to serve in the capacity of Director and Principle Lecturer
– Expansion of the Academy across three floors - Opening of The Cultual Space, including The Gallery, The Temple and The VAVA Werkstätte
– Began working in a new studio ~ Atelier L. Caruana ~ on Strozzigasse 41 in the Josefstadt district of Vienna
– Publication of Sacred Codes: The Forgotten Principles of Painting, Revived by Visionary Art – Volume I – The Drawing Stage including a Book Launch and Retrospective Exhibition (Ad Sacrum: Toward the Sacred) at The Gallery of The VAVA Cultural Space
– Publication of Moreau’s Labyrinth: A Visual Guide Through Jupiter & Semele – It’s Narrative, Composition & Philosophy
– Closure of The Vienna Academy of Visionary Art due to the Global Pandemic
2021 – Present – BURGUNDY (Nièvre)
– Return to farmhouse in Burgundy
– Launched The Online Fundraiser Workshop Series to help cover closing costs of the Academy
– Offered online courses such as Free-Hand Sacred Geometry and Watcher at the Gate together with Florence Ménard
– Worked on the first large-scale painting for The Apocryphon Chapel ~ The Upper Aeons
– Completed the first volume of an autobiography: Reflections in the Mirrored Sphere - The Unlikely Yet Epic Life of Alphonse Pinselstrich (And its Startling Resemblance to My Own...)
EXHIBITIONS
Voyages chamaniques, arts visionnaires d'Amazonie - Musée Quai Branly Paris – 14 November 2023 - 26 May 2024
Avaloka Gathering – Sargfabrik Vienna, October 2023
Cosmic Convergence Festival – Haag, Austria, June 2023
Visionarium Festival - Barcelona Spain, May 2019
Solo Exhibition L. Caruana – Ad Sacrum: Toward the Sacred – The Gallery of The Vienna of Visionary Art Cultural Space – Vienna, April 2018
Transmissions: A Tribute Exhibition Dedicated to Ernst Fuchs – Galerie 10 – Vienna, May 12 – 30, 2016
Visionary Art Museum – Boom Festival, Idhana-a-Nova, Portugal, August 2014
Mirabel Tower – O.Z.O.R.A Festival, Hungary, August 2014
Inner Worlds – Graduate Exhibition, Vienna Academy of Visionary Art, June 2014
Dreams & Divinities – Toledo, Spain – May 2013
Art Spirit Now – Boulder Colorado, May 2013
EnQuête du Sacré – Chiméria – Festival International des Arts Visionnaires – Sedan, France, October 2012
EnQuête du Sacré – Galerie de l’Art Visionnaire de Paris, September 2012
Third Eye Gallery – Boom Festival – Idhana-a-Nova, Portugal, August 2012
Solo Exhibition – La Pouvoir des Mythes including Live Painting & Chants – Galerie de l’Art Visionnaire de Paris – Paris, June 2012
Solo Exhibition – La Pouvoir des Mythes – Espace Beauvais, St. Saulge, France, January 2012
The Fountain Oracle Gathering – Dragons Sphere park, Washington, August 2009
The Interdimensional Art Tour (San Francisco, Montreal, Seattle, Eugene, May 2009)
Guest of Honour at Chiméria – Festival International des Arts Visionnaires – Sedan, France, March 2009
Boom Festival – Idhana-a-Nova, Portugal, August 2008
Metageum Conference – Malta, November 2007
Chiméria - Festival International des Arts Visionnaires – Sedan, France, October 2006
Dalis Erben Malen Europa – Wolnzach, Germany, October 2005
Chiméria - Festival International des Arts Visionnaires – Sedan, France, October 2004
La Parfume des Femmes – Paris, France, May, 2002
Art of the Imagination – London, England, February 2002
l’Art Imaginaire – Monaco, September 2000
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Sources of Inspiration for My Art - Art, Psyche and the Creative Imagination Programme at The Limerick School of Art and Design (Technological University of the Shannon) November 26, 2022
Alchemy, Visions & Art – A Seven Part Lecture Series, presented at The Vienna Academy of Visionary Art and recorded during the 2019 Winter Trimester on The Alchemy of Paint – January - March 2019
Visionary Art – Panel discussion with Martina Hoffmann and Pascal Ferry –Visionarium Festival - Barcelona Spain, May 2019
Sacramental Culture & Visionary Art – Presentation followed by Panel discussion with Alex Grey, Allyson Grey, Mark Lee and Daniel Kage at Art, Spirit Now Vienna hosted by The Vienna Academy of Visionary Art, February 23, 2016
Visionary Art & A Vision of Art: Possible Paths for Art in the 20th Century – Opening Speech at the SGEM Conference, Hofburg Palace, Vienna, April 2016
Sacred Codes – A Series of 11 Lectures presented at at The Vienna Academy of Visionary Art and recorded Sept 2014 - June 2015
The Vision Journey East and West – Presentation, Chambok House, O.Z.O.R.A Festival, Hungary, August 2014
What is Visionary Art? – Presentation at the Chambok House, O.Z.O.R.A Festival, Hungary, August 2014
Introducing The Vienna Academy of Visionary Art - Presentation at Art Spirit Now, Boulder Colorado, May 23, 2013
L’influence de l’ayahuasca dans la création artistique – Presentation followed by discussion with Jan Kounen and Tom Verdier at EHESS - Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, Paris, February 23, 2012
The Visionary Ideal: Life as Art-making and Spirit-quest – Presentation and Discussion with Alex & Allyson Grey at CoSM: The Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, Wappinger NY, October 6, 2012
Du Genèse à l’Apocalypse : Visions du Cosmos – Presentation on Mayan Cosmology at Chiméria: Festival International des Arts Visionnaires, Sedan, France, – October 2012
Enjeux pratiques des états modifiés de conscience – Panel discussion – L. Caruana, Luis Eduardo Luna, Manuel Villaescusa & Enrique del Bosque moderated by Juan Gonzalez, Colloque sur les Hallucinations dans la Philosophie et les Sciences Cognitives, Paris, March 2009
Entretiens sur l’expérience visionnaire – Panel discussion – L. Caruana, Jan Kounen & Romuald Leterrier, Chiméria: Festival International des Arts Visionnaires, Sedan, France, March 2009 - Filmed and broadcast online by Baglis.tv France
L’art visionnaire et la quête personnelle du Sacré – Presentation, Chiméria: Festival International des Arts Visionnaires, Sedan, France, March 2009
L’art visionnaire, héritier des traditions sacrées – Presentation, Chiméria: Festival International des Arts Visionnaires, Sedan, France, March 2009 – Filmed & broadcast online by Baglis.tv France
Visionary Art Culture Creators Panel – Panel discussion – L. Caruana, Luke Brown, Carey Thompson, Andrew Jones, Zariat & Leo Plaw moderated by Delvin Solkinson, Liminal Village, Boom Festival, Idhana-a-Nova, Portugal, August 2008
Practical Uses of Altered States of Consciousness – Panel discussion, Colloque sur les Hallucinations dans la Philosophie et les Sciences Cognitives, Paris, March 2008
Les entheogènes et l’art visionnaire – Presentation, Colloque sur les Hallucinations dans la Philosophie et les Sciences Cognitives, Paris, March 2008)
Entheogens in Megalithic culture – Panel discussion – L. Caruana, Erik Davis & Gyrus, Metageum Conference, Malta, Nov. 2007
The Ancient Image-Language of Myth, Art & Dreams – Presentation, Metageum Conference, Malta, Nov. 2007
Entheologue with Alex Grey – Presentation & discussion, CoSM: Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, Chelsea district of Manhattan NY, August 2007
L’art visionnaire et les hallucinations – Presentation, Colloque sur les Hallucinations dans la Philosophie et les Sciences Cognitives, Paris, May 2007
Ernst Fuchs et l’école viennoise du réalisme fantastique – Presentation, Mairie de Nogent-sur-Marne, Paris, Oct. 2006
Les entheogènes et l’art visionnaire – Presentation, EHESS - Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, Paris, May 2006
TEACHING ENGAGEMENTS
The Alchemy of Paint - Winter Trimester at The Vienna Academy of Visionary Art, 2016
The 2014 Summer Seminar at Torri Superiore Italy – Co-teaching with Amanda Sage & A. Andrew Gonzalez, July 204
The 2013 Summer Seminar at Torri Superiore Italy – Co-teaching with Amanda Sage, A. Andrew Gonzalez & Maura Holden, July 2013
Manifest Your Vision - Co-teaching the first three trimesters at The Vienna Academy of Visionary Art with David Heskin & Aloria Weaver (Fall 2013), Timea Tallian & Benedetto Fellin (Winter 2014) and Daniel Mirante & Kuba Ambrose (Spring 2014)
Enter Through the Image: Painting Sacred Visions in the Mischtechnik – A five-day workshop at The Omega Institute in Rhinebeck NY – May 31 - June 6, 2013
Visualizing Shape into Form - Workshop with Maura Holden at CoSM: The Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, Wappinger NY, June 8, 2013
Express Your Energy in Paint - The Mana Prima Technique - An afternoon workshop together with Amanda Sage & A. Andrew Gonzalez, teaching 300 people at The Liminal Village, Boom Festival, August 2012
The 2012 Expanded Visions in the Mischtechnik - Summer Seminar at Torri Superiore Italy – Co-teaching with Amanda Sage, A. Andrew Gonzalez & Maura Holden, July 2012
Enter Through the Image: Painting Sacred Visions in the Mischtechnik – A five-day workshop at The Omega Institute in Rhinebeck NY – September 30 - October 5, 2012
The 2011 Expanded Visions in the Mischtechnik Seminar at Torri Superiore Italy – Co-teaching with Amanda Sage, A. Andrew Gonzalez and Maura Holden, July 2011
The 2010 Visions in the Mischtechnik Seminar at Torri Superiore Italy – Co-teaching with Amanda Sage, & A. Andrew Gonzalez, July 2010
The 2009 Visions in the Mischtechnik Seminar at Torri Superiore Italy – July 2009
The 2008 Visions in the Mischtechnik Summer Seminar at Torri Superiore Italy – July 2008
PODCAST INTERVIEWS
Psychedelic Gnosis and the Imaginal Double - Interview with Matthew J. Dillon of The Pop Apocalypse Podcast for The Transcendence and Transformation Initiative at The Centre for the Study of World Religions at the Harvard Divinity School - May 15, 2023
Gnosticism and Visionary Art – Interview with Rudolf Berger of The Thoth Hermes Podcast (Season 4-Episode 21) May 31, 2020
Laurence Caruana on Visionary Art and the Fall of Sophia - Interview with Earl Fontainelle for the Living Esoteric Cultures Series on the SHWEP - Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast - April 22, 2020
The Gnostic Worldview –The Juan on Juan Podcast #09 – Oct 2020
Secret Rituals in Gnostic Myths – Interview with Miguel Conner of Aeon Byte Gnostic Radio - November 13, 2012
Entering Through the Image - Interview with Erik Davis for his Expanding Mind program on The Progressive Radio Network, focussing on Enter Through the Image – February 11, 2010
Secret Rituals in Gnostic Myths – Interview with Miguel Conner on Aeon Byte Gnostic Radio about Enter Through the Image – May 2010
What Would the Ministry of a Gnostic Jesus look like? – Interview with Miguel Conner of Aeon Byte Gnostic Radio about The Hidden Passion - 2008
LCARUANA.COM
Email: visionnaire@lcaruana.com