There is a lot going on in this piece, which I used as chapter art for my book, "Remnants of Eden: Evolution, Deep-Time, & the Antediluvian World." To best summarize the painting, we see an interpretation of the Biblical Tree of Knowledge. It's long, serpentine roots smother and fuse with countless skulls, connecting the tree to death (Genesis 3). Upon its trunk is carved an ouroboros patterned like the infinity sign, from which drains blood. This reflects the continuous existence of evil, yet with it the continuous presence of the blood of salvation.
Beside the tree are two broken pillars. One represents evolution and the other deep-time; together here representing the weakened foundations of naturalism. Below is a developing fetus with a bar code across the brow. This is the gestation of a new reality promised at the foot of the Tree of Knowledge, where in Genesis 3:5 it was said of mankind “Ye shall be as gods.” Behind the child flashes screens of altered genetic code, and mechanical elements are integrated into directly from the Tree into the womb.
Nurturing the new reality into existence are a pair of hands: a synthetic one and an augmented one with a barcode.
This digital painting was produced with Autodesk Sketchbook and Adobe Photoshop.
